The Nome nugget., 1939-02-06
Efforts made to solve radiO-avia
 tiOn problems for Alaska

of the Federal Communications Commission on Jan. 12, analysis was made of the growing prob lem confronting the further use of radio communication in avia- tion in the Territory. The meet ing was attended by representa- tives of the Civil Aeronautics Authority, the Coast Guard, the Signal Corps, the Federal Com munications Commission, and by Delegate Dimond and Messrs. Harold Strandberg and Alan Horning of Anchorage.
 Difficulties attending the fur ther extension of radio use by aviation companies operating in Alaska results from the fact that all available frequeneies that may be used in this class of radio communication have al- ready been assigned and are in use, so the Federal Communica- tions Commission is unable to ap- prove applications now on file for radio license desired by oth- CT companies that wish to es- tablish their own facilities.
 Both the Civil Aeronautics Authority and the Federal Com munications Commission are vi- tally interested in the extension of radio use on the airways for increasing the safety of life in the air, and are looking forward to the near future when it seems certain that all passenger flying aircraft will be radio equipped Several plans were discussed al the meeting that would permit the further spread of aviation radio frequencies among more aviation operators in the Terri. tory. The one that appeared tc promise the most in solving the present problem was the plar suggested of having a commer. cial organization established that would operate the ground stations for radio communica- ton with all planes on a free basis for the service given. This has been satisfactorily worked out in the States by a company known as Aeronautical Radio, Inc, which provides radio ground contacts with all planes requesting the service on a na-- tion-Wide basis.
 MT. Strandberg said that he and MT. Horning had talked with the general manager of Aeronaut- ical Radio, Inc, and he had ag- reed to cooperate to the fullest extent possible in setting up a similar aeronautical radio ser- vice in Alaska if this should be found desirable.
 The chief point in favor of this plan seems to be that a much more reliable service would be available to all requiring it, with all radio ground stations under one management and with only one station in each location where the service is required, rather than where each company attempts to provide it's own radio service with the result that in the centers where number of companies are based there would be either much interfer- ence and inefficiency in opera tions if each company could and should be allowed licenses on available frequencies, or num- Der of the aviation companies would necessarily have to be den- jed licenses to keep the air clear for the few having licenses.
 Following discussion of the sub ject, Delegate Dimond recommend ed that the Federal Communica- tions Commission and the Civil Aeronautics Authority send rep resentatives to Alaska and call a meeting, inviting all to be pres ent who are interested in air transport in the Territory, and try to work out some plan with the Alaska Aeronautics and Com munications Commission that will be satisfactory to all.