Evening star., 1938-09-25
HEALTH MACHINES
DISTURB RADIOS
Communications of Planes
Approaching Airports
Are Hampered.
BY WILLIAM WHEATLEY.

Dy "AAAAhN
Increased and uncontrolled use of
electrical radiation apparatus in the
treatment of human ills is interfering
with radio communication to such
an extent THAT technical and legal
experts of the Communications Com
mission ave seeking a satisfactory So
luton.
At present. the very elements used
in the saving of human life and the
relief of suffering may be the direct
cause Of taking life and causing suf-
fering through interference with the
use of communications channels at
airports.
There appears to be some divergence
of opinion on the fine point of differ
ence between radiation" and in
duction," so far as it relates to regu-
lation, and the legal experts, with
this and the Communications Act be-
fore them, are undecided as to what
authority the commission has to regu-
late these machines
Easy to Clarity.
1t was pointed out by some that
congressional action could clarity the
situation in a simple way. Given
the authority, the commission could
assign the definite frequencies in a
band which would not interfere with
any other service, thus materially
clearing the atmosphere for better
radio reception.
The interference caused by the ap-
paratus is by no meas local, for a
machine used in physical therapy
operated on the East Coast might we'll
be heard in the radio receivers ON the
West Coast This has been demon
strated by the experts of the Com
munieations Commission, Who in max
ing test, put a telegraph key at a
machine in Boston and sent out def
mite signals which were heard in San
Francisco.
Many radio listeners who hear def
mite buzzeS in their sets when getting
programs and are inclined to blame it
on fault in the set which requires
the services of repair man. may find
it is caused by some doctor giving
treatment to a patient hundreds of
miles away.
There are two known and definite
methods Of clearing the communica-
tions airWays of this disturbance One
is the very expensive method of shield
ing the apparatus, and the other is to
assign them definite frequencies in the
radio spectrum
To order the first would cost millions
of dollars, and in the case of hospitals
would be prohibitive. 1t would involve
the installation of fire screens which
would absorb the radio waves, but be-
cause of the fact that these machines
are not used in any one particular
room in hospital, but are rolled about
to the patients rooms, it would mean
that every room in hospital would
require the shields-in many cases
causing a complete reconstruction of
the hospital.
Commission in Doubt.
The assignment of frequencies which
would not interfere with the communi-
cations bands appears to be the cor
rect and economic answer to the prob
lem. But the commission is in doubt
as to whether it has authority to as
sign frequencies for this purpose, and
in order to clarity the whole situation
has determined to ask Congress for
, an amendment to the Communications
Act which would give it jurisdiction.
The troubles, however, are not con-
fined to the continental United States,
for the medical waves have been heard
in Canada and England, and perhaps
farther. But these two nations have
registered definite complaints concern
ing the interference.
The apparatus furnishes a serious
problem at airports. Planes approach.
ing airports in the vicinity of hos
pitfalls, and at time when it is i'm
portant to receive orders and signals
on landing, etc., have found their
communication seriously hampered.