Broadcasters’ news bulletin (Jan-June 1932)

Record Details:

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2 Jujie 11, 1932 DIGEST OF RE^^ORT OF FRO IR RESPORSE TO COUZEN3-DILL RESOLUTION 1. WHAT INFORMATION THERE IS AVAILABLE ON THE FEASIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT OM ERSVIP AND OPERATION OF BROADCASTING FACILITIES. The answer to this Question was arranged hy the Commission into three parts . A. INFORMATION CONCERNING A GOVEPNNMENTALLY O'JINED AND OPERATED RADIO BROAD¬ CASTING SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES. The Commission pointed out that there was no governmentally owned hroadca.sting system in North America. Conditions in Europe and the United States are entirely different, the Commission said, and to apply results obtained in any European country to the United States would probably lead one to entirely wrong conclusions . "There are many possible broadcasting systems which could be operated in the United Sta.tes under government control but the determination of a proper technical system depends upon the aim to be accomplished," the report said. "The United St^'tes is made up of 48 political subdivisions having varying areas, popula tions, a.nd interests. The policy adopted might take into account the particular interests of the people of the various states with the selection of programs in the control of each State, or all st tions could be nationally owned and operated with the selection of all programs in the control of a na.tional organization. "Each policy requires a different system of technical operation, and it is not possible to formulate a definite plan of technical operation without a de¬ termination of policy. For example, it might be decided that each person in the United States, no matter where located, is entitled to receive the same number of programs, each with a satisfactory signal free of interference. Such a service might be accomplished by means of a large number of low power stations operated in several synchronized chains. It is estimated that such a system would re¬ quire approximately 1000 stations for each program. To supply three programs v7ould require an initial cost for installation of approximately $120,000,000 with an annual technical maintenance of approximately $100,000,000. "Another possible policy might be to give tv;o or more national programs which could be heard at night throughout the UnitedStates and provide one or more stations to be operated independently by each state to give programs of interest to the States. The national covera,ge could be provided by several high-power stations geographically arranged so as to give a satisfactory rriral service. The state stations would vany in power depending on the area of the state to be served To give such a service would require an initial investment of approximately $50,000,000 with an annual technical maintenance of approximately the same amount. "These tvio plans are simply examples which have been developed to show the possibilities and to give some idea of cost." No figures for talent cost are included in these amounts. "The Federal Radio Commission is ready to prepare detailed plans for a technical arrangement to meet the needs of any policy which may be determined if it should be decided that government ownership and operation of broadcasting is desirable for the United States," the report stated.