Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

The Case For 5 Kw. Regional Power Present Service Requirements and Past Increases Cited In Plea for Liberalization of Commission Policy THE DISSENTING opinion of Commissioner Lafount in the case of the four stations which on August 12 were denied power increases constitutes such convincing argument for horizontal power raises for regional stations that significant excerpts are reproduced for the readers of BROADCASTING. Mr. Lafount not only points out that present demands are for greater power but he also recalls that until General Order 40 was drafted the Radio Commission's policy was favorable to power increases. By HAROLD A. LAFOUNT Acting Chairman Federal Radio Commission Mr. Lafount ville> Ky.— which applied for increases in power from 1 kw. to 5 kw. on the regional channel of 940 kc. shows conclusively that the public interest, convenience and necessity would be served by the granting of these applications. The evidence before us is indisputable that, so far as daytime conditions are concerned, the granting of the present applications would extend the service of these four stations over large areas not now receiving good coverage in rural districts of Maine, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oregon, and, to some extent, Minnesota. This would be of substantial public benefit. At night it is unquestionable that within areas now receiving service from these stations there would be a substantial increase in the intensity of signal and many listeners in these areas who have received service which has been subject to interruption from static and man-made interference would benefit from a signal sufficiently strong to overcome such present annoyances and interruptions. No Added Interference IT IS furthermore shown that where there might be interference at present such interference would not be increased. Hence, in large measure, the improved daytime conditions are applicable at night insofar as the operation of these stations with 5 kw. as proposed would enable them to render good service to thousands of listeners not now enjoying such service from these stations. Furthermore, this benefit could be had without injuring anyone or depriving any station of any of its coverage or any portion of the privileges conferred upon it. All that might be said to stand in the way of the granting of these applications is a strict interpretation and application of two of our regulations. One of these regulations is Paragraph 120 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations (formerly Paragraph 4C of G. O. 40) which provides as follows: "The following frequencies are designated as regional frequencies and are allocated for use by regional stations which are permitted to operate simultaneously unless otherwise restricted: "The operating power of such stations shall not be less than 250 watts, nor during nighttime greater than 1000 watts, nor during daytime greater than 2500 watts, but in the case of Canadian shared frequencies subject to the further restrictions stated in paragraph 123." Power Gains Permitted SINCE the enactment of General Order 40 there have been very substantial increases in power throughout the country under the Commission's regulation. We have provided that clear channel stations are no longer limited to a regular power of 25 kw. but that four of these in each zone may use 50 kw. regular power. The limitation upon the power of so-called high power regional stations has been changed from 5 kw. to 10 kw. Many regional stations having power of 250 watts, 500 watts, etc., have been permitted to increase power and the general tendency in the local field has been to increase from such powers as 10 watts, 15 watts and 25 watts to a usual power of 100 watts. There has also been a substantial increase in additional daytime power. The policy of allowing power increases was followed until the recent crystallization of the quota system. From these factors and from general changes in public tastes it appears that present requirements are for higher levels of signal intensity for good service than have prevailed in the past. This can be seen from a study of the reports of the conference held by Secretarv Hoover prior to the enactment of the Radio Act of 1927, when the term "high power station" was generally used to apply to stations having powers of 1,000 watts or over. Purpose of G. O. 40 IN THE earlier days of broadcasting when the reception of entertainment was a matter for enthusiasts and long distance reception, when all reception was done upon head sets prior to high qualitv audio transmission, when reception had for its purpose identification rather than enjoyment, there was little demand for high level of signal and no great interest in quality. The expressed objections were usually instances where perceptible heterodyne of marked intensity was heard or where there was actual static or noise level high enough to prevent identification of the station received. Since those days the entire theory of radio reception has been revised. Since the development of high quality transmitting technique, of newer and more faithful instrumentalities, of high voltage loud speakers, higher signal intensity is absolutely necessary. In view of this, some thought must be given to the purposes behind the enactment of Paragraph 120 (General Order 40). A perusal of the Commission's publications contemporaneous with the enactment of the order will show that the purposes of that order are: (1.) Provision for the enforcement of the Davis amendment, and (2.) an orderly and systematic framework for the allocation and assignment of broadcasting stations on a logical and definite plan. Restriction Not Intended NEITHER of these purposes is served by assuming the power limitations contained in the order are intended as limitations for all time upon actual wattage in an antenna regardless of service, coverage or interference. That no such significance can be imported into the order will appear from the changes which have been progressively made into the methods of evaluating station power. Originally all transmitting installations were rated as to their output power upon the basis of one-half the voltage times the amperage introduced into the tubes of the last power amplifier stages. Subsequently, this factor for dividing the input was reduced on several occasions. It will thus be seen that the Commission could never have intended to definitely and permanently restrict power output. Such a restriction would be similar to our restricting the power of an incandescent electric globe. No benefit could accrue from such an order. In fact, considerable harm would result in requiring the public to use a low wattage lamp or a poor one when a good lamp was available. So also in radio reception there is no good accomplished bv requiring the listener to use a weak, distorted, noisy signal when a satisfactory one can be provided without actual additional cost to the listener and with no substantial additional interference to other stations. Purpose of Order WHAT MUST have been intended by the Commission is consideration of power output in terms of service, intensity and interference, and if power changes can be made which will increase either service or intensity or both without affecting interference it cannot be presumed that the Commission intended to so forever abide by the present terms of Paragraph 120 as to preclude such improvements. A power limitation in regional channel assignments is for the primary purpose of keeping the various stations upon the frequency on a substantial equality so far as service and interference may be concerned. It has also been stated that the granting of these applications violates the quota system which we have established. But we must not consider that the provisions of the quota system are of such mathematical accuracy that they need be used to prevent the rendition of service where required by the listening public which cannot otherwise be served under a strict and mathematical interpretation of that system. Proposes Rule Changes MOREOVER, in these applications, the applicants request the Commission to make whatever amendments might be necessary for their granting. I think that the strict application of Paragraph 120 and 100 to this case works an unnecessary hardship which was never intended when these regulations were promulgated and that proper amendments should be made. The following language should be added to Paragraph 120: "Provided, that if upon any of the above-named frequencies it appears to the satisfaction of the Commission that additional power may be used simultaneously by all stations operating upon said frequency without increasing interference to stations upon adjacent frequencies, said maximum allotment of power may be 5,000 watts." And the following language should be added to Paragraph 109-(d): "Provided, that in case such stations are authorized to use additional power pursuant to Paragraph 120 of these Regulations, as amended, such additional power shall not have the effect of increasing this unit value." An Ozark Station WITH SUBSTANTIAL time contracts signed even before its completion, KGBX, recently moved from St. Joseph to Springfield, Mo., expects to go on the air the first week in September, according to Ralph Foster, managing director. Morton R. Duff, former manager of KSO, Clarinda, la., is handling national advertising; Walton Lochman, formerly with KMBC, Kansas City, WNAX, Yankton, and WIBW, Topeka, is program director, and Kirk West, brother of Bill West, of KMOX, St. Louis, is on the commercial staff. September 1, 1932 9 BROADCASTING Page 11