Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

Madrid Broadcast Band Fight Looms U. S. Has Open Mind on Europe's Enlargement Plan; Two Moves to Block Conference are Squelched DEFINITE assurances that a vigorous battle for enlargement of the broadcast band to embrace a portion of the long waves will be waged before the International Radio Conference, which will open in Madrid about Sept. 15, are contained in the formal proposals of the signatory nations now being circulated by the international bureau at Berne, Switzerland. The question of broadcasting allocations promises to be the high spot of the deliberations. The United States delegation will propose retention of the status quo as to broadcasting, but indications are that it will have an open mind. Any proposal to invade the frequencies below 550 kc. for broadcasting, however, will certainly be fought by the military and naval services of this country, which occupy a number of these waves, as well as by certain commercial groups. An unsuccessful movement to block the holding of the Madrid conference, for sundry reasons, was begun in recent weeks. It is understood to have originated in this country. Certain large wire companies, flanked by a group in the Navy Department, according to reports, sought to have the conference indefinitely postponed. A veiled suggestion to this end also is understood to have emanated from official British sources to the Spanish administration, but evidently it was promptly squelched. The wire communications companies apparently are opposing the conference because of the probability that it will combine its sessions with those of the International Telegraph Conference, which meets concurrently in Madrid. They do not wish to be subjected to the terms of an international treaty covering all communications, both wire and wireless, which unquestionably will develop from such a joint session. Western Union, for example, made objections along this line at the time of preliminary discussions for the Madrid conclaves held with State Department officials about a year ago. U. I. R. Proposals IN THIS connection it may be definitely stated that the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation is on record as favoring the conference and has in no wise been involved in the efforts to have it postponed. The most comprehensive proposal involving broadcasting is that advanced by the International Broadcasting Union, quasi-official group of broadcasting officials representing virtually all European nations and known as the U. I. R. Europe now is using for broadcasting the bands from 160 to 224 kc, in addition to the regular broadcast band of 550 to 1,500 kc. The switchover for the listener is accomplished by an additional coil in the receiver. The new U. I. R. proposal is to push the limits of the band both down and up. Briefly, three separate portions of the spectrum would be cleared for broadcasting under the U. I. R. plan. The services thereby displaced would be provided for in other portions of the spectrum in a fashion outlined by the U. I. R. The majority of frequencies would be procured by clearing 150 to 285 kc, which is double the space now used in Europe for its long wave broadcasting. On the 10 kc. separation basis used in this country it would mean that 13% additional channels would be available. Secondly, the U. I. R. recommends that that band from 370 to 460 kc, embracing 90 kc. or the equivalent of nine domestic channels, also be cleared. Another 10 kc. channel would be obtained by use of 540 kc, on the lower end of the present band, for broadcasting. To recapitulate, 23x/2 new 10 kc channels would be set aside for broadcasting if the U. I. R. plan is adopted in toto. Fixed, mobile, direction finding, government and other services now occupying these frequencies the world over, would be provided for adequately, according to the U. I. R., by a reallocation of assignments. In addition to its long wave recommendations, U. I. R. proposes that the amateur band from 3,500 to 3,700 kc. be set aside for "exclusive broadcasting" as well as the very high frequency range in the unreserved portion of the spectrum from 33,000 to 50,000 kc. Apparently this is done in anticipation of the use of these waves for local directional broadcasting. U. S. Involved THE U. I. R. recommends that the long waves be made available to all nations alike for broadcast purposes as a permanent enlargement of the band. A condition, however, is added that if other nations do not accept the plan Europe do so alone to relieve its own peculiar broadcasting situation. The United States, it is conceded, inevitably will be drawn into the long-wave controversy. Neither Mexico nor Canada has (Continued on page 22) Radio: A Good Samaritan South Dakota's Senators Point With Pride to WNAX, Which Has Twice Come to Relief of Farmers D. B. Gurney LET THOSE who look upon radio merely as a medium of entertainment heed this story of radio's tremendous force and value as an agency of humanity — a story oft narrated and pridefully by South Dakota's Senators Norbeck and Bulow: Last year when drought-stricken Arkansas called for help, WNAX, Yankton, S. D., broadcast an appeal to which people in the Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska responded generously. The result was that $37,602 in cash and many carloads of food were sent to the station, which shipped 70 carloads of food for humans and livestock and large stocks of medicines to the unfortunates. This year — not so well-known to the public at large — the farmers of certain sections of the Middle Northwest, notably South Dakota and Nebraska, find themselves in a worse condition than Arkansas by reason of the unprecedented drought of the last two years combined with snow and ice and subzero weather. WNAX is again coming to the rescue. On Feb. 8 the first direct appeal was made to the folks who had money or feed to give. On Lincoln's birthday, $30,000 worth of feed from about 1,000 generous listeners — 150 carloads — was on its way to the stricken areas. In some places pitiable conditions of starvation actually must be faced. D. B. Gurney, president of WNAX, and W. C. Lusk, of the Yankton Press and Dakotan, are directing the campaign, which has as its object relieving 20,000 South Dakota farmers and many in nearby states from pauperism. They confidently expect to obtain 1,500 cars of feed worth $300,000 by conducting the campaign primarily by radio. RESCINDING its order of revocation, the Radio Commission Feb. 19 granted WHDL, Tupper Lake, N. Y., renewal of license to operate on 1420 kc with 10 watts daylight only. In so doing it terminated an existing temporary license and sustained the recommendation of Examiner R. H. Hyde. Mexican Law Authorizes Censorship of Stations But Enforcement is Lax VIRTUAL censorship of radio programs by Mexican authorities is provided in a new general law governing all communication and transportation recently promulgated by President Ortiz Rubio. While certain provisions of the new law, which supersedes regulations previously enforced by the Minister of Communications, are drastic in the extreme, they apparently are not being rigidly enforced. Of particular interest is a provision, evidently aimed at Dr. John R. Brinkley, of Kansas, who operates XER, at Villa Acuna, Mexico, with about 75 kw. It has to do with studio locations. "Broadcasting stations," the section reads, "are prohibited from establishing studios on foreign soil, connected by telephone lines. Remote control services shall be carried out precisely from the points specified by the parties in their contracts according to the provisions of the law." This ruling, however, has not yet been enforced. Broadcasting and experimental stations are specifically excluded from the "public utility" classification. Broadcasting stations are divided into two classifications — "commercial" and "cultural." For the protection of authors and composers, all stations are required to post a bond, which is set by the Minister of Communications, at present Miguel Acosta. Whether this provision is being enforced could not be learned. The provision dealing with program specifications, which amounts to censorship, reads: "It is forbidden to send news or messages whose text is opposed to the safety of the state, international good will, public peace or order, morality, the laws of the country, or which contain foul language, or which might prejudicially affect collective economic interests, cause disturbance, attack in any way the constituted government, or the private life, good name or interests of persons, or which have in view the committing of a crime or obstructing the course of justice." Reception of CBS Relay Program Reported Good EXCELLENT reception throughout the hour's relay program to Europe by the Columbia Broadcasting System was reported recently by broadcasting stations in the seven countries participating. The program of American talent, called "Hello, Europe," in addition to being carried on 50 United States stations, was relayed in Great Britain by the B.B.C., in Germany by the Reichs Rundf unk Gesellschaft, in France by the Ministry of Posts, Telephones and Telegraphs, in Italy by the Ente Italiano per le Audizioni Radiofoniche, in Austria by Radio Verkehrs A. G. and by the official radio stations in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and Budapest, Hungary. All cables testified to the quality of the transmission as well as the talent, according to CBS officials. There was said to be practically no fading. The program was transmitted via A. T. & T. March 1, 1932 • BROADCASTING Page 15