U.S.A. BROADCASTING

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 5, 19 August 1927, Page 15

U.S.A. BROADCASTING

GOVERNMENT CONTROL SITUATION ‘A recent revision of wireless laws and regulations in the United States has provided for the first time ¢pffective machinery for the control of ‘wireless broadcasting stations. Until a few weeks ago the Government had practically no legal powers over the prorietors of broadcasting stations, and it was very largely by the grace of the owners of the broadcasting stations that the Departinent of Commerce exercised any control at all over the wave-length, power and working conditions of the stations. Under a new set of regulations, however, the powers of the Government have been greatly strengthened and the control of broadcasting has been placed in the hands .of a specially created board, which has just been set the unenviable task of clearing up the chaos of interference which now exists in the United States, especially in the large centres, It | has begun its operations by announcing that it intends to close most of the stations operating in the congested centres. Drastic, but Necessary.

At first sight this decision appears to be rather drastic, but it is far less so than it seems. ‘There are at ‘present 68 different stations providing a setvice for the city of New York alone, and the board proposes to reduce this number.to a maximum of 20. The 57 stations from which the listeners in Chicago receive their programmes will be reduced to about the same number as will be allowed in New York. The commission proposes to reallocate the wave-lencths of the broadcasting stations which are allowed to remain in these and other congested areas to ensure that there is sufficient separation between the wave-leneths of the stations to prevent interference. The location of stations will also he reviewed, anid no powerful stations will be allowed in densely populated areas. To Prevent Blanketing. This will obviate the "blanketing"’ of all other stations by the presence of a single powerful station among a large number of listeners. It. is intended also strictly to regulate the power of stations, and few licenses for "superpower" stations will be granted. The maximum power of the best classes of the ordinary stations is not likely to exceed the power of the largest of the Australian A class stations. Selective Receivers. While this general review of broadcasting conditions in the United States will undoubtedly greatly improve the servicé which listeners obtain, the period of chaos which has just ceased hag not been without its value, because it has forced manufacturers to produce receivers the selectivity of which is not equalled in any other country in the world.