Evening star., 1938-10-17
BOOST IN POWER
OF WLW OPPOSED
r. c. c. Committee Urges
Increase to 100000 Watts
Be Denied.

Denial of the application Of Station
wLW. the Crosley Radio Corp, at
Cincinnati, Ohio, for renewal Of
It's experimental license to broadcast
with 500.O0o-watt power was recon-
mended by the special committee of
commissioners of the Federal Commu-
nications Commission. whose opinion
was released today. The three COM
misisoners, Norman S. Case, chair
man: T. A. M. Craven and George
Henry Payne, were unanimous in the
recommendation.
Three reasons were given as a
basis for their action. They are:
First, that the applicants proposed
experimental research program does
not necessitate the use Of 100000
watt power to result in any substan-
tial contribution to the radio art;
second. that in the light of the ad-
verse effect upon the reception of
Station WOR, Newark, N. j.. and the
uncertainty as to the economic effects
generally Of such operation, caution
should be exercised by the commission
In extending the experimental au-
thoriza ton, no compelling reasons
therefor having been advanced, and,
third, in view of these factors, public
interest, convenience and necessity will
not be served by the granting of the
application.
The report of the committee must
be considered by the full commission,
whose action will be final unless 1t is
appealed to the courts. However,
prior to commission consideration,
the, case is expected to be set down
for oral argument on the part OF
counsel for the Crosley Corp.
The full commission will meet to-
morrow, but 1t is unknown whether
the WLW case will be considered.
Weeks on Testimony.
The case is perhaps the most I'M
portant the commission has had be-
fore it at any time, since the applca-
ton asks for this one station 100000
watts more power than the present
limit for other stations. $4,000 watts.
The same committee has before it the
question of changing the rules on
broadcasting which will permit sta
tions to apply for this superpower, and
spent weeks in taking great volume
of testimony on the matter last sum-
n1er, prior to its consideration OF the
WLW case. There are also pending
before the commission applications Of
about IS other stations for use of this
high power. However, the action on
the NLW case has been taken as an
indication that the committee will
recommend against superpower at this
time.
Coming at this time, the case ranks
In importance with the impending
general shake-up in the staff of the
commission which was started last
week with the dismissal of Hampson
Gary az general counsel, and roper
cussions are expected in Congress. The
action Of the full commission on the
matter is awaited with no little inter-
est by the radio industry, for it is we'll
known that the commissioners who
have been handling the matter have
been subjected to tremendous pres
sure in its favor by New Deal trouble
shooters. Two Of the three commits
sioners on the committee, Messrs.
Craven and Payne, were lined up
against four others in the action
against Mr.. Gary and in the proposal
Of the chairman to remove certain
positions in the Office from the pro-
lection Of the classified civil service.
Commissioner Case was confined to
his home by illness at the time these
actions we're taken, although he
signed the current report.