Evening star., 1948-10-07
| Railroads Fight Slash
In Radio Frequencies
Assigned TO Them

The Association of American
Railroads today fought before the
Federal Communications Commits
sion to prevent a reduction from so
to Al in the number of radio
frequencies assigned for use in rail-
road operation.
j. M. Souby, general solicitor for
the railroad association, was it's
spokesman today. Former Senator
D. Worth Clark of Idaho spoke for
the railroads yesterday and said the
roads are contemplating expenditure
Of 5000 900 for communications.
Mr.. Souby stressed the need of the
roads for radio channels for use in
yard and terminal operation. Before
the assignment of the so channels
the roads had requested SO channels.
including 80 for train operations
from one end of train to another,
from train to train, and between a
train and fixed point-20 for yard
operations and SO for terminal
operations.
Mr.. Souby asserted the use of
radio in yards and terminals is Just
as important as in other operations.
There are fewer risks to travellers in
terminals than in main line opera
tions, but the terminal risks to rail-
road personnel are greater, he said.
He said also that radio use in yard
operations assists in speeding up the
handling of cars. Saving one day
in the average turn-around of a
freight car is the equivalent to add
ing 100000 cars" he said.
The so frequencies now allotted,
he said, amount to no more than
one television band. He referred
to television as entertainment or
luxury.
Wayne Coy. FEC chairman, said
he did not want Mr.. Souby's state
ment on television to pass unchal-
lenged from Mr.. Coy's point of view.
Mr.. Coy stressed the public interest
in television as a conveyor of infor-
nation and as a necessary part of
communications.
Publishers May Testify.
The hearing, which opened yes
terday, concerns the ALLEGATION on a
permanent basis of wave lengths.
some of which were authorized as
long ago as 1s45 on an experimental
basis. Allegations for aviation. in
dustrial use, mobile transportation,
public safety and other uses are
involved.
Spokesmen for the American
Newspaper Publishers Associa ton
may take the stand late today or
tomorrow. In a preliminary state
ment yesterday they declared the
suggested wavelength classification
changes would prevent newspapers
from using radio mobile phones.
With these devices. reporters in an
automobile can talk directly with
their news rooms.
If you withdraw these 10 fire.
quencies from the railroads you will
have a very damaging effect on the
whole train dispatching system" D.
Worth Clark, former Idaho Senator,
who is now counsel for the asso-
citation of American railroads,
warned. ..,r
Instead of reducing the number
of short-wave communication chan
nels for train operations, Mr.. Clark
declared, the FEC should allot SO
additional freQuencies for future use
in railroad yards and terminals.
ANPA Statement Not Answered.
FEC officials did not comment on
the preliminary statement of the
ANPA. Commission officials ex-
planned that "the proposed rules
make no specific provision for any
of the types of experimental opera
ton which newspapers wish to have
continued on a regular permanent
basis
The new plan, they said, would
not prevent use of mobile radio-tel-
ephone devices by newspapers. But
use of such facilities would be much
more restricted because of reduc-
tions in power and range authorize
tions, they added. At present the
so-called press relay system is in
special classification. The proposed
plan would put it in general class
itication with many other users.