NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

“Our plan tends toward national unity, promotes musical culture and appreciation, banishes provincialism and sectionalism, pre¬ vents disintegration of our people into classes, and brings to our people, even in remote sections, the inspiration of religion and other messages of men and women of outstanding arhieyements and mentality. Our people are cemented by common sources of entertainment, economic interests, ideals, problems and dangers, all of which were in the minds of the members of Congress when they, after long and serious debate, adopted the Federal Radio Act of 1927. That law is the product of an enlightened, alert public opinion. Under it private intitiative, private capital, and most of all American business methods of popularizing and devel¬ oping radio are provided for. It gives to the licensees of radio stations no vested right in the air but preserves that heritage for the benefit of all of the people, to be used in the public interest for the public’s convenience, and to meet public necessities, all of which, under our plan, is to be supervised, administered and con¬ trolled by the people through the Federal Radio Commission as the agency set up by Congress to represent the people — the lis¬ teners. The law has been sustained as constitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States and all other courts having occasion to pass upon its terms and conditions. “Nation-wide communication by radio is proving to be a valuable asset to the government at this critical time, keeping the people fully and accurately informed concerning economic readjustments being made to restore prosperity. Our dynamic President takes advantage of radio now and then to talk to the ‘whole family,’ giving our people new hope and inspiration by clarifying many complex questions, as, for example, his thirteenminute speech regarding the banking situation delivered soon after his inauguration. There the President banished fear from outpeople regarding their banking institutions and instilled new faith, confidence and respect for our State and Federal governments. Since then he has frequently spoken on other issues with equal effect. The President can, and does, reach in each of his speeches practically the whole nation of over 124,000,000 people with the result that the people have buckled down to hard work wuth the feeling of confidence that everything will come out all right under the “New' Deal.” Thus, the citizenry generally are kept better informed than former generations were concerning the functions of our national government and the manifold and complex prob¬ lems confronting it. “The Press, about six weeks ago, carried the following item: “ ‘If you have any comments or kicks about radio pro¬ grams send them along to the Federal Radio Commission. That invitation was extended today by Commissioner James H. Hanley, newest member of the Commission w'ho took office just six months ago. He wants to get listener reaction and “let the people rule radio” by expressing their likes and dis¬ likes. “ ‘ “I don’t think the people as a whole take enough interest in programs.” He said, “I think they should communicate with stations and with the Commission. I would favor a questionnaire at regular intervals to leading citizens, public officials, school teachers, educational societies, clubs and other representative groups to obtain views and information which I am certain would prove most helpful to the Commission.” ’ “Although this notice appeared in practically all of the large daily and W'eekly papers throughout the country, tess than a hundred responses came to the Commission or to myself. Those were from all sections of the country, and less than fifteen had any serious criticism of our system, and the conclusion can well be draw'n that the people, generally, throughout the United States are pretty well satisfied with radio reception. “When the regulation of radio was before our Congress the question of government ownership and control was thoroughly considered. After much deliberation the Congress decided that it w'ould require vast sums to operate a radio system, which w'ould mean an extra tax on our people. Vigorous protests against such a plan by listeners swamped Senators and Representatives. “Under the British system a tax of approximately $2.50 per year is placed on all receiving sets. At present there are in use 1 7,000,000 sets in this country, w'hich if taxed at the same rate w'ould mean the listeners w'ould be forced to pay annually $42,500,000.00 for use of their radio sets. Now the only expense to the listener is the cost of the set, its installation and upkeep. “Theoretically the British Postmaster General is the director of British radio. He licenses the British Broadcasting Corporation, giving it a monopoly of all British broadcasting. The charter provides that the Postmaster General may by notice require the British Broadcasting Corporation to refrain from transmitting any broadcast matter specified, also the charter declares explicitly that the corporation shall transmit any matter which any depart¬ ment of the government may require to be broadcast. "According to William Hard, the noted American journalist and radio commentator, Sir John Reith, Director General of the Brit¬ ish Broadcasting Corporation, is the absolute autocrat of the whole British radio system. Mr. Hard says: “ ‘Sir John wields substantially the centralized omnipotent benevolent radio power, that some progressives among us think ought to be wielded. He should, of course, in accord¬ ance with that thought, be a progressive. He is in fact a true blue, conscientious, conservative. “ ‘Sir John has openly denounced the demagogic heresy that in radio the public should be given what it wants. He gives it overwhelmingly, what Sir John himself thinks personally, that it ought to have. He thinks that it ought to have a great many elevating talks. One is impressed by the multi¬ tudinousness and magnitudinousness of these talks.’ "Governmental broadcasting since it is supported by the state, in Great Britain, according to Mr. Hard, must be careful not to offend the state and must therefore, while it escapes ‘commercial¬ ization,’ embrace ^governmental responsibility, and a censorship far beyond any control known among us.’ “Which recalls that recently the press carried reports to the effect that Lloyd George and Winston Churchill were denied the right to use the facilities of the British Broadcasting Corporation, because Sir John declared they no longer represented important political parties. “No such discrimination could be practiced here. Minorities are usually accorded the same privileges as majorities and anyone with a worth-while message is accommodated as a rule by our broadcasting stations. “Evidently speakers who are disposed to take issue with policies advocated by the government are barred from using the British system. Here we have free and full discussion of all public ques¬ tions — the opposition being quite as vocal as the proponents. "Here the 600 licensees are individually responsible for the kind of programs broadcast. Instead of one radio czar as in England, we have more than 600 here, with the Federal Radio Commission sitting as a quasi-judicial body to see that the programs rendered are in the public interest. “The British system cost the taxpayers approximately $7,000,000.00 to support, obtained through the tax on the 4,470,000 sets in operation. "There are long periods through the day when no programs are on the air. Here one can obtain radio service day or night to gratify his peculiar whim, fancy or inclination at the time. "It is our diversity of programs which is one of the chief virtues of the American system, appealing as they do to all ele¬ ments of our population. "In a recent report to the U. S. Senate, the Federal Radio Com¬ mission outlined several possible plans whereby our broadcasting system could be operated under government control. One plan calls for a system whereby 1000 low-powered stations would be established in the 48 states to take care of the varying areas, popu¬ lation and interests. That plan it is estimated would require an initial cost for installation of $120,000,000.00 with annual main¬ tenance cost of $100,000,000.00. “Another plan would be to provide one or more stations for each state to give programs of interest to the states, and several high-powered stations for national coverage. “This plan, it is estimated, would require an initial investment of $50,000,000.00 with an annual maintenance cost of the same amount. “So it would seem that the best and most economical thing for us to do would be to strengthen the radio structures we have erected through years of toil and experience, eliminating offensive features and strengthening weak spots.” PETTEY, SOUTH CAROLINA COLONEL Governor 1. C. Blackwood of South Carolina appointed Herbert 1.. Pettev. secretary of the Federal Radio Commission, as a colonel on his staff. ■ Page 226 ■