Broadcasters’ news bulletin (June-Dec 1931)

July 11, 1931 COIviMISSlON DEMONSTHAIES CHECKER A new method of gathering information to be used as evidence against broad¬ casting stations under investigation by the Commission was successfully demonstrated this week in the offices of Dr. C. B, Jolliffe, Chief Engineer of the Commission. Portable apparatus, manufactured for the special use of the Commission by RCA Pho¬ tophone Inc, will record programs of any station under investigation, and if necess¬ ary at a subseouent hearing the recordings may be used as a verbatim transcription and introduced as evidence. The equipment which costs approsimately $1,000. was accepted by the Commission^ after the demonstration. The apparatus consists of a portable disc equipment con¬ sisting of a recorder containing two motor driven turntables, a recording amplifier, a microphone, a radio receiver end a loudspeaker. Pre-grooved blank disc records are placed upon each of the twin turntables and when in operation, with sound being recorded as it emanates from a loudspeaker, those records operate continuously and automatically change from one to the other. Each record is pre-grooved on both sides, making it possible to record a programme of forty-eight minutes duration. Twelve minutes are consumed in recording on one side of a record. Special needles arc reouired to successfully operate both the recording and reproducing equipment. Records can be reproduced immediately after the recording has been completed. "We believe the operation of this device will solve many of the problems that have been confronting us for several years," said E. 0. Sykes, Acting Chairman of the Federal Radio Commission, following today’s demonstration, "With it we will be able to record radio broadcasts in any section of the coiontry ahd have a per¬ manent record for use in any emergency. Heretofore we have been obliged to resrot to stenographic reports and oftentimes they haveproven unsatisfactory. How we shall have an absolutely perfect record which, if need be, can be introduced at hearings before the Commissioners* Examiners to support the allegations in the Commission's bill of complaint. With this new device in operation we shall be able to maintain close contact with all broadcasting activities and when it beccraes generally known that we ha.ve installed the apparatus, we believe it mil be the means of lessening the number of infractions against the Commission's rules and regulations. The portability of the apparatus , which can be 'cransjSorted in three small cases, will make it possible for it to be transported, when necessar-r; to remote places where it will be operated by a radio engineer who sha;,ll be r nmpoisnt to qualify as an expert at any necessary hearings," James W. Ba'jdwtn, secretary of the Commission, stated that this new anparptus would result in inc.c -"ased ef:^'’ciency and economy in conducting finture hea,,' irgs . It has been the (rj.s.r-cj ko send ont for affidavits tc supnert cemp Lin’ ntc egnin-v,. ,-t partic^i.lar see ti 'cds }J;:\ Brd.dwzn stated this wonlt. r^o Icrmrr he neco-'cary s’j.rce the use of this ne-w rccc rl ;.ng ;-cT:ipment will give n complete and dctai.lec. report of a station's &■; seve''"£ii cases, he said, '■he eoet of st'inographic inans* criptions has e.vceeled tns a'V' Vi.t paid for the .■icw rpp-'T-/du-n Dr. JoILkL'^.-j Ln s'je .._o oj' the "^luc f S"ch ? de /ic.e :n gathering ev;, d rn.,: c for Commission eec. irds sard air;' station that rct C'.v&d sEhistactory nad lity may ha'n? ic-s prog''fi;n' e''oorcad for posccbic future n.se by the Corrnii scion on matters affecting its li'enewal cf license in the public interest. The demonstration was arranged and presented by Gerald K. Rudulph, Director of Publicity and Advertising of RCA Photophono; W, S. Wakera, Engineer of RCA Photophone and J. A. Terrell, RCA Victor Engineer,