Radio Broadcast (May-Oct 1925)

How the Government Is Regulat ing Radio Broadcasting The "Interest of the Listener" Is the Final Test of Regulation — The Present Situation and Future Possibilities — An Interview with Judge Davis of the Department of Commerce By R. S. McBRIDE INCREASING service to the listener," is the only proper basis for radio regulation and development in the opinion of Herbert Hoover, Secretary of Commerce. But it is a long way from this generalization to the practical working out of a Government policy. So Radio Broadcast has undertaken to study the departmental policy as to the control of broadcasting to see just what this statement really means. For this purpose, an interview was secured with Judge Stephen B. Davis, Solicitor of the Department of Commerce, with results that are most gratifying from the point of view of the listener. There is no doubt that the radio audience is assured of every protection and aid which the skilled agents of the Government can offer and that fair and helpful service will be given to any broadcasting development that has real merit. GARDENING FOR JACK OF THE BEAN STALK The Wavelength's the Thing Everyone who knows the pleasant pressure of head phones or who is often attentive to a loud speaker has discovered that the ether paths are becoming more crowded every day. The average radio listener — if there is such a person — has probably wondered how the Government is dealing with the serious problem of distributing the broadcast wavelengths, which, when one considers the number of applicants for the comparatively few available, are few enough. There has been a deal of excited speculation on what would happen if a number of so-called super-power stations were licensed — speculation, it may be said, with only an indifferent knowledge of the facts. Mr. McBride has gone to headquarters for his information and we think he has presented very well the attitude of the Department of Commerce. The Department is charged with administering the Radio Act under the very difficult changing conditions of radio. That radio progress has not been greatly hindered by hasty and illconsidered legislation is due to the many good and capable friends of radio who have used their influence honestly and well in Washington.— The Editor growth of the radio broadcasting business. In this, as in the fairy tale, not even the sky is the limit, so it seems. Four years ago — or August, 1921, to be exact — the first broadcasting was begun. To-day the Department lists nearly 600 broadcasting stations in operation or under construction. These must be guided and safeguarded if the real interest of the industry, which means the wishes of the general public of listeners, is to be adequately protected. And with ether space so much at a premium to-day, the task is not an easy one. In view of the continued rapid growth of broadcasting, many have foreseen a constantly increasing confusion in the air, which would be helpful to no one and harmful to all. Anticipating this situation the Department was asked, "How much worse must things get before they can begin to improve again?" Or putting it another way, ONE can well imagine the troubles which a gardener would have had caring for the yard of Jack of bean-stalk fame. But such a gardener would have had no more trouble in pruning the bean stalk to shapely form than does the Department of Commerce in directing the "How much more broadcasting interference must the public tolerate before it will rise up and demand rigid regulation and complete elimination of the interfering stations?" These questions were addressed to Judge Davis, who is really acting as first officer of