Radio Broadcast (Nov 1924-Apr 1925)

864 Radio Broadcast ence before entering the theatre. And likewise the owner of a radio receiving set, with his power to tap in on many sources of entertainment, should be made to pay his share of the entertainment received, commensurate with the range of his set and the amount it is used. Probably the best index of the range and cost of a set lies in the kind and number of its tubes. In a crystal set it is difficult to pick out any one satisfactory index of its value or use. The crystal should no doubt be taken as the index here. A charge, then, on the tubes or crystals purchased, and included in the purchase price paid by the owner of the receiving set, is the method here suggested for meeting the cost of broadcasting. Why these articles rather than any other should be taken as the criterion in laying the charge will appear from what follows. THE TUBE IS THE INDEX OF THE SET J F EXCEPTIONAL cases be excluded, it may A be said that the tubes used in receiving sets to-day have a life closely commensurate with the service they render. Two similar tubes giving identically the same service may not last each as long as the other. But in the long run, tubes of reputable manufacture in ordinary service will last a time closely enough concurrent with their usage to serve as a basis for A Summary I . Radio broadcasting must pay its way. 1 1 . Person who must pay is the consumer — the radio listener. III. Most satisfactory mode of payment is a definite charge applied to every owner of a receiving set in proportion to range, value and amount of use of set. . IV. This charge must be compulsory — a "box office" charge. V. The best index of the range and value of a set lies in the kind and number of its tubes. In a crystal set, the crystal is the best apparent index. A. Life of tubes and crystals represents with reasonable accuracy the amount of use set has. B. Number of tubes is index of diversity of broadcasting programs at consumer's disposal. C. Levy can be readily applied to tubes or crystals in form of stamp tax collected from manufacturer and paid by final purchaser. D. Apportionment of tax greatly simpli fied and evasion minimized. the owner's share of the broadcasting he receives. With crystals the relation between use and useful life is not so satisfactory. Crystals do in time lose their sensitivity as detectors and have to be discarded. But statistics will be needed to determine accurately how long the different crystals now in use for radio reception may be expected to give satisfactory service before requiring replacement. No doubt considerable data on this subject is already available. Although this mode of guaging "broadcasting consumption" for this type of set, which it is believed involves the majority of receiving sets of to-day, is not wholly satisfactory, still no better criterion is apparently available. In a tube set, the number of tubes is an excellent index of the cost of the set and of the range over which it can receive. Thus a broadcasting tax on tubes will affect more the owner of the expensive set who should be required to pay more, because he is able to command a broader choice of program than the owner of the less expensive set, who is correspondingly less able to pay the larger tax. Crystal sets do not as a rule involve very expensive equipment and in any event their range is usually limited, and hence a sliding tax scale here is not particularly to be desired. of the Plan VI. Yearly tax not excessive and should not harm the industry. VII. Only possible administrator of the superbroadcasting fund is the Federal Government. A. Problem national in scope. B. Private interests would require monopolistic powers. C. Administration of broadcasting fund not particularly liable to political corruption. D. Importance to Government of controlling broadcasting stations as means of directing public opinion. VIII. Concrete illustration shows how $18,000,000 a year may be raised by stamp tax for super-broadcasting purposes. IX. Government will take over some existing stations and build others by bond issues amortized from broadcasting fund. Immediate fund obtained by collecting tax from sets now in use. X. Conclusion that super-broadcasting for, and paid by, the consumer places broadcasting on its rightful basis.