PORTUGAL NATIONALISES RADIO

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 65, 14 September 1933, Page 21

PORTUGAL NATIONALISES RADIO

- The Government of Portugal has established a monopoly of wireless transmission. A decree, recently published, taxes every owner of a wireless receiver or transmitter, .reports I the "Science Monitor." The small license fee previously charged entailed no limit upon the numboi- of transmitting stations, with tho. result, that, many small, advertising stations were installed at Lisbon and Oporto, either by amateurs, or by, business, firms.. The programmes were, of inferior quality, chiefly "gramophone records or] theiivatioriaT"Fados," while thp.faulty;- transmission, niadfr reception of long-distance messages, difficult in Lisbon. "'■'.■''■.'' By theteritis.of.thO;.pros.ent monopoly, the control of-, all wiVieless. communications will bo entrusted to tho Posts and Telegraphs management. A special Department for Direction of Radio Sorvices is to be established. Exception is made for communications of the military services, which will be undeithe control of tho Ministries of War and Navy. Eadio service overseas is to bo supervised by the Ministry of Colonies. Tho decree provides for three government wireless stations. A mediumwave station for Lisbon will have power not less than 20 kilowatts. A shortwave 'station at Lisbon, chiefly for transmission to. the Portuguese overseas colonies, to Brazil and North America, of not less than 10 kilowatts, is provided, as well as a medium-wavo sfation for Oporto, of not less than one kilowatt. ■ Amateur can obtain licences ior erection, of transmitting stations at a cost between 2s-6d arfd £5 a month, according to the power used and the pur^ pose of .transmission. \ ■■, The tax on any receiving set is about Is 3d a month, and possession of an outside aerial is evidence that a set is in use. Tho use of receivers in hotels, clubs - and- cafes involves extra] taxation. '■■','' . ■ ■ [|