Evening star., 1939-01-29

Rubber r-Stamp FEC.
Is Seen Possible #
Membership Is Cut
Adherence to 1884 Act
Declared Desired by
Radio Industry
BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY.

BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.
Radio broadcasting and the lis
tening public are confronted with a
serious problem in the forthcoming
legislation calling for reduction of
the Federal Communications Com
mission to three members, and
rewriting of the administrative Sec
tions of the act, according to those
who have been following the con-
troversy within the present seven
man commission.
The fear has been expressed in
some circles that under a three-man
commission radio control and regu-
lation might be as had or worse than
it is now, since the present COM
mission has not laid down any
general policies for the guidance of
those who have heavy, perishable
investments in equipment for pre-
senting entertainment to the public.
Those interested in the problem
say three-man commission might
provide the setup of having at its
head a man determined to carry
out the will of the administration,
who would need only one commits
sioner of the rubber stamp" type
to force through its policies.
Industry Desires Policy.
What the radio industry Is seek
ing now, and what it has been seek
ing for long time, 1t was asserted,
is some policy to guide it along
channels desired by the administra-
tors. At present the only time radio
officials know they have done wrong
is when they are called before the
commission for particular COM
plant, or when their licenses are
due for renewal each six months.
All that is needed now to solve
the issues, those who have been
studying the situation contend, is
faithful adherence to the underly-
ing principles of the Communica-
tions Act of 1884, where, it was
added, Congress expressed its wishes
as to how radio should be controlled.
The present commission, it was as
serted, has failed to do this, or at
least the majority of the commits
sion has.
1t is known that recommendations
containing policies have been laid
before the commission, but it has
been impossible to get the majority
to listen to arguments on them or
open the discussion in a manner
that would be expected of any quasi
judicial or deliberative body. This
inability to whip all seven commits
sioners into line, it was asserted,
led to the proposal for a three-man
commission.
Real National Issue.
Radio control, it is pointed out,
is one Of the real national issues
today. A radio expert pointed out
that although the Communications
Act Of 1884 implies that the control
OF broadcasting rests ultimately In
the hands Of the public, there is now
raised the question of whether lin
itations shall be placed on the use
OF the peoples broadcast waves or
whether this modern method OF mass
communication shall be preserved as
an open forum.
II limitations are to be placed on
the use of radio. the question arises
as to who should exercise the ulti-
mate control, and if it is to be main
tanned as an open forum, who will
be charged with preservation of
democratic principles as applied to
broadcasting?
1t has been pointed out that the
method by which broadcasting Is
controlled can at one stroke COM
pletely change its aspects as a service
to the public.
Could Act as Balance Wheel.
Whatever arguments there may be
IN favor Of small commission to
regulate other mediums of COM
merce, they do not fit the radio
communication, it was contended,
because the problem of misuse of
authority can be more closely
guarded by seven men, who. though
they may be divided. nevertheless
could keep the public informed of
their differences, and act as a
Dalance wheel.
These problems are to be pointed
out to members of Congress. The
appearance of the legislation which
is being drafted by Chairman Nc
Ninch, will be the signal, it is ex-
pected, for public airing of matters
known for long time to those fol-
lowing AFFAIRS Of the F. G. c.
since President Roosevelt called
for legislation in letters to Senator
Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana and
Representative Lea, Democrat. of
California, and Chairman McNinch 8
conference with the two, a number
OF members of Congress have been
seeking information from various
sources. The battle is expected to
break in either House soon. and
much factual data are being pre-
pared by those expected to be called