Evening star., 1939-08-20
Army and Navy Back
Efforts 10 Include
Radio Data in Census
information Would Be
Valuable for Defense,
Officials Soy
Nv WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY.

The influence of the War and
Navy Departments. 1t was learned
yesterday has been thrown behind
that of the Federal Communications
Commission in the commissions ef-
fort to have included in the census
schedules next year a question
which would determine the number
of radio broadcast receivers in the
United States.
Such information, it was pointed
out, is of definite military value in
formulating a broad national de-
fense communica tions program 1t
would give the military establish
ments definite, up-to-date knowl-
edge Of the density of location of
these sets and furnish an idea of
the number of persons who could be
reached quickly on matters affecting
the national defense.
William L. Austin, director of the
census, said the schedules which
would be used by the enumerators
next year had not been determined
definitely and probably would not be
for several months. He added that
The request of the F. c. c. was being
given serious consideration, and dis
closed receipt of similar requests
from the War and Navy Depart
mentS.
Opposition in Bureau.
There has been some opposition in
the Census Bureau to including such
questions in the population schedule
on the ground it might open the
road to requests for collection of in
formation on other electrical appli-
ances. Such information was COL
lected in the 1890 census, but broad
casting has made such strides dur
Ing the last decade that the infor-
nation obtained at that time is of
little use now.
communications Commission Of
Metals who had been of the opinion
the proposed questions would not
be included in the census expressed
themselves as elated over the fact
the influence of the military
establishments had been thrown
behind their efforts They pointed
out that the Communications Act.
among other things, requires the
+. G. G. to regulate and make ade-
quate facilities for the purpose Of
national defense and for the pur-
pose of promoting safety of life and
property.
1t was said that the Census
Bureau already has included ques-
tions concerning radio receiving sets
in the national farm census, but
while this data will be valuable it
will not furnish the information de-
sired for the whole country.
Information Inaccurate.
In addition to its value for ma
tional defense, the commission re-
qulres the information for the pur-
pose of carrying out its functions
concerning the licensing and regu-
lation of broadcast stations. At pres
ent the only definite data it has is
that furnished by the stations. While
1t was said that this information is
fairly accurate for the denSley popu-
lated areas, 1t is inaccurate as to the
small cities and sparsely settled sec
tions, on the theory that where the
sample thins out the trade pattern
becomes distorted to the point of in
accuracy and inadequacy.
Unless the matter is included In
the next census, the Communica-
tions Commission has informed the
Budget Bureau, substantial appro-
prlatlons may be required by the
F. c. c. to make it possible for it
to collect the data. It pointed out
that the Official status of such data
contributes to its value so that its
usefulness is far beyond that of SIM
liar data submitted by the broadcast
industry in It's own behalf