Evening star., 1938-04-29

!
M *: for broadcasting
n.v;d 1.ur.n,. set up by Con-
gress. Mr.. Sar-
nof wants radio broadcasting pro-
grams to be free from any govern
mental interference.
THE broadcasting controls estab-
1ished by law" says Mr.. Sarnof, "are
intended primarily to regulate physical
facilities, not programs
Mr. Paley's intent of course, was not
to approve any system of governmental
regulation of programs, but to at
tempt to establish certain standards
and see that Government enforced
their application. The objection to
this is that Government, being politi-
cally controlled, is itself factor in
public discussion and hence the radio,
like the press, must set up its own
standards, leaving abuses to be taken
care Of, as they are in other mediums
through laws governing obscurity,
fraudulent advertisement or hbellous
statement.
Open Wide Door.
Radio, in fact, is a medium not un-
like the press and no special laws regu-
lating its programs could be enacted
without at the same time opening the
door to Government regulation of the
contents of other mediums such as
the newspapers. the magazines, the
movies or the theater.
while direct Government censor
ship over radio programs" declares
Mr.. Sarnoff, lis forbidden by law, the
terms of the Government licenses leave
the door open for an indirect-and
more inSidiouS censorship Any at
tempt to impose the ordinary blue
pencil censorship is little to be feared
because, being conspicuous violation
OF the right of free speech, it would
arouse storm of public protest But
what is not conspicuous-and is, there
fore, dangerous-is the effect on the
mind of the broadcaSter resulting from
attitudes that may be taken by the
Government toward stations, on mat
ters outside the regulation of facilities
Arbitrary Discipline Feared.
''Fear of a disapproval can blue
pencil a dozen programs for every one
that an official censor might object to.
While practically nobody advocates a
pre-program blue pencil In the hands
OF Government, few realize that post
program discipline by the Government
can be form of censorship that is
all the more severe because it is un-
defined.
"1f Government regulation Of the
economics of broadcasting results in
a no-prof1t industry, investors may
prefer to exchange their broadcasting
equities for Government securities.
Then We shall have Government own
ership and 100 per cent control of
broadcasting. Any further discussion
Of censorship would then be purely
academic. We would have broadcast
ing Of the Government, by the Gov-
eminent and for the Government. We
have but to look at the autocracies
OF Europe to see what such govern
mental control of broadcasting may
mean"
Mr.. Sarnoff's speech relates to the
attempts to levy heavy taxes on broad
casting, which this correspondent
pointed out recently was not unlike
Huey Longs attempt to put taxes on
the circulation structures of news
papers, something which the Supreme
Court Of the United States declared
unconstitutional It is interesting that
the head Of the National Broadcastine
Co. should be sounding a warning
about governmental regulation of
broadcasting, for it has long been
contended by critics of the administra-
ton that the party in power has means
OF controlling the radio facilities for
its propaganda.
Public Begins to Learn.
There seems little question but that
broadcasting stations and systems
have leaned over backward to give
governmental officials time on the air.
Even to this day the minority party
spokesmen do not have simultaneous
hook-ups Of all systems Immediately
after presidential address, no matter
how political or partisan its nature.
Rules such as these tend to give an
advantage to the party in power, but
public opinion is slowly learning more
about the important part being played
In radio broadcasting by the existence
OF licenses which can be revoked by
governmental agencies.
Once these grounds for revocation
OF licenses are clearly established as
related only to questions of equitable
distribution Of wave lengths from a
mechanical standpoint and wholly un-
related to program content, there will
be no suspicion attaching to the acts
OF a Federal Communications Com
mission whose chairman is in frequent
conference with the President Of the
United States.
Time was when it was considered
Just as unethical and improper for a
member of a quasi-judicial or in
dependent commission to be discussing
anything with the Chief Executive as
It would be for some Federal Judge
to discuss his cases with the Attorney
General or the President himself.
Radio Is q new agency and much Of
the blame for the lack of definition
OF responsibility and authority rests
on the owners Of broadcasting stations
and networks who until recently have
been lax about standing up for their
constitutional rights of freedom Of
the air.
Copyright. 1881