RADIO LICENSES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16816, 19 August 1922, Page 9

RADIO LICENSES.

AMATEUR TRANSMISSION.

RULES FOR BROADCASTING.

Wireless amateurs will he greatly interested in an announcement which the Postmaster-General (the Hon J. G. Coates) made, that the issue of radio licenses will be subject t-o the following general principles :

Amateur receiving licenses will be subjected only to such restrictions as shall ensure non-interference with and the secrecy of public radio traffic. Amateur transmitting licensee will be of two grades, tlie different grades requiring different standards of knowledge of the adjustment and operation of amateur radio apparatus, and of the laws and regulations governing its use.

Amateurs whose objects cannot be classified as scientific or experimental, and who are unable to produce evidence of a sufficient degree of technical know*ledge, will ho classified in grad© 2, ant! will be confined to transmission on a fixed wave-length. Amateurs in grade 1 will require to possess higher qualifications than amateurs in grade 2, and will hare somewhat greater latitude such ns a choice of more than one wave length on which transmissions may he effected* The greater scope will involve greater responsibilities in the direction of the avoidance of interference with service commuhications, such as a. higher degree of skill as a Morse operator. ' and an obligation to listen nt stated intervals for instructions -and warnings from Government stations.

A graduated scale of fees will be charged for the different classes of licenses and certificates.

A band of wave-lengths will be reserved for amateur transmissions extending from 120 to 185 metres. The allocation of these wave-lengths among the different- grades and among the licenses in these grades, and the requirements regarding adjustment, will be such as to reduce ns far as practicable mutual interference. The further reduci ion of interference will be a matter for mutual co-operation among amateurs themselves. Infringements of the laws and regulations governing licenses will lay the licensees open to legal penalties and to the withdrawal of their licenses. Provisions will also be made for penalties to be enacted against any who may be found with unlicensed stations. RADIO BROADCASTING. In addition to the amateur licenses, provision ie being mado for licensing the broadcasting of lectures, music, news and other items of interest (but not advertising matter) by manufacturers' of radio-equipment and their agents or by approved corporations or individuals. It is proposed to establish two grades of broadcasting -stations : Grade 11. embracing stations up to 100 Watts output, and Grade I. from 100 watts upwards. A band of wave-lengths from ISS to 255 metres will be allocated to Grade IT. For Grade I. two bands will be reserved, viz., 255 to 270 metres and 330 to 375 metres. These waVe-lengths will as far a-s practicable be allocated in such a manner as to reducemutual interference to a minimum ; the means adopted beingto distribute the wavelengths in both grades so that stations in. adjacent areas shall be as widely -separated in wave lengths as possible, and where necessary sary by the. restriction of the hours of transmission and the limitation of the number of stations operating in a given area. The amount of power permitted to stations operating close to commercial radio stations will be influenced by the degree of selectivity attainable with the class of radio transmitter employed. The same principle will apply to a broadcasting system operating in proximity t-o other licensed transmitting station©. As in the cnee of amateur stations a graduated scale of fees will be charged to cover the cost of registration ftnd inspection. One of the qualifications for broadcasting license will be proficiency in Morse- reception at the rate of ten words a minute either by the licensee or a certified assistant, and there will be a further provision requiring listening at stated intervals for Government .warning signals where interference with legitimate service traffic is being experienced. Penalties for the non-observance or breach of regulations will also he enacted. For experimental stations such as Universities nnd other recognised scientific institutions, a hand of wave-lengths between 380 and 410 metres is reserved.