In addition to the oral evidence given by the witnesses named above, written evidence has been furnished by the following persons and organisations : The Executive Committee of the London Labour Party. The President of the Sheffield and District Wireless Society. The Institute of Handicraft Teachers. The Director of the Meteorological Office, Air Ministry. The Automobile Association. The Home Office. The British Empire Union. The Federation of British Industries. The British National Opera Company. Messrs. Broad and Son (on behalf of certain artistes and the Gramophone Company, Limited). The Editor of the "Wireless Trader." The Incorporated Society of Authors, Playwrights and Composers. The Wireless Retailers Association. authorised (subject in all respects to the conditions set forth on the back hereof) to establish a wireless station for the purpose of receiving messages at for a period next. The payment of the fee of 192 1. The Licensee shall not allow the Station to be used for any purpose other than that of receiving messages. 2. The Station shall not be used in such a manner as to cause interference with the working of other Stations. In particular back-coupling must not be used to such an extent as to energise any neighbouring aerial. 3. The combined height and length of the external aerial (where one is employed) shall not exceed 100 feet. An aerial which crosses above or is liable to fall upon or to be blown on to any overhead power wire (including electric lighting and tramway wires) must be guarded to the reasonable satisfaction of the owner of the power wire concerned. 4. The Licensee shall not divulge or allow to be divulged to any person (other than a duly authorised officer of His Majesty's Government or a competent legal tribunal) or make any use whatsoever, of any message received by means of the Station other than time signals, musical performances and messages sent for general reception and messages sent solely for experimental purposes from an authorised experimental sending station. 5. The Station shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by duly authorised officers of the Post Office, who will produce their cards of identity on request. 6. This Licence may be cancelled by the Postmaster General at any time either by specific notice in writing sent by post to the Licensee at the address shown hereon, or by means of a general notice in the London Gazette addressed to all holders of wireless receiving Licences for broadcast messages, and will be cancelled on breach of any of the foregoing conditions. In the event of cancellation no part of the fee will be returned. N.B.-Any change of address must be promptly communicated to the issuing Postmaster. APPENDIX C. BROADCASTING IN UNITED STATES, CANADA AND United States.-Broadcasting as a means of entertainment had its birth in the United States between one and two years before it was adopted in Europe. It is still carried on there on a much larger scale than in any other country, although the Committee is informed that technically this country is now equally advanced. A licence is required for the operation of a transmitting station in the United States, but no licence is required for any type of broadcast receiving set. Transmitting licences can be obtained without much difficulty, and there are at present between 500 and 600 broadcasting stations in operation. The number of receiving sets in use is unknown but is certainly very large, one authority estimating it at about three millions. Most of the licences for broadcast transmission are held by Electrical Companies, Department Stores, Newspapers and Wireless Societies. Except in the case of Wireless Societies, which receive subscriptions from their members, these organisations provide the service free of charge, apparently in most cases in order to advertise their business. Some of them also broadcast advertisements of other firms in return for payment. The United States Government provides a free broadcasting service from the Arlington station, near Washington, the programmes com. prising lectures, market news, music, and miscellaneous information supplied by Government Departments. At one time the numerous broadcasting stations all used the same wave-length, with the result that they were constantly "jamming" one another's signals. A wide band of wave-lengths has, however, recently been allocated by the United States Government to broadcasting; different wave-lengths are allotted to different stations; and the interference due to "jamming" has been much reduced, although, according to some accounts, it is still troublesome. Interference was also caused by the use of receiving sets in such a way as to cause radiation from the receiving aerials; but as listeners become educated in the proper use of their apparatus the interference from this cause tends to diminish. According to the "Wireless Age" of July, 1923, there are now eleven broadcasting transmitting stations in greater New York. Two of these, which are of kilowatt power in the antenna, belong to the Radio Corporation of America and transmit simultaneously from a double antenna on the top of the Aeolian Hall building the wavelengths being 405 and 455 metres respectively. One gives serious addresses and classical music, the other the more popular features. Either can be connected by telephone lines to various public places in New York, and indeed, other cities. Another of the stations is that belonging to the American Telegraph and Telephone Company which, on a recent occasion, shared music and speeches delivered in the Carnegie Hall with the stations of the General Electric Company in Schenectady, the Westinghouse Company in Pittsburg, and the Chicago Daily News in Chicago, all simultaneously broadcasting. Canada.-The Dominion Government has furnished the Committee with a memorandum describing the broadcasting situation in Canada. All wireless installations, whether for transmission or reception, require licences. A fee of 50 dollars a year is charged for a licence for broadcast transmission. Sixty-three such licences were issued last year, but there has lately been a considerable falling off in the number, and only 25 stations are now working. About half of these are operated by Companies interested in the manufacture or sale of wireless apparatus, and about half by Newspapers and Stores. As in the United States, most of the licensees provide a broadcasting service in order to advertise their own business. The recent falling off in their number is considered by the Canadian Government to indicate that "manufacturers are beginning to find the expense of running a station a burden, and the novelty having worn off they are closing down their stations." The Government have recently allowed them, as an experiment, to earn revenue by the transmission of direct and indirect advertisements of other firms, on condition that no direct advertising shall take place between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. A fee of 1 dollar a year is charged for a receiving licence. The number of such licences issued last year was about 10,000; and it is estimated that the number will be increased this year to about 50,000. The Government maintain an inspection service, in the conduct of which they enlist the services of a number of amateurs as part-time inspectors at a nominal salary. These amateurs listen-in each night and deal with any local interference. It is understood that the cost of the inspection service and of the issue of licences has hitherto absorbed more than the amount received in licence fees. The Canadian Government have recently introduced a Bill to empower them, if desired, to pay a portion of the licence fees to a Provincial Government, private company, or other party, for services in connection with the operation of broadcasting stations or the licensing and inspection of receiving stations. Australia. The Committee has been furnished with a copy of proposed regulations for broadcasting which, it is understood, were approved at a conference of the interested parties called by the Postmaster General of Australia at the end of May last, although they have not yet been formally approved by the Commonwealth Government. These regulations provide for certain wave-lengths to be allocated to broadcasting, and for each broadcasting station to use one wave-length only. Receiving licences are to be issued to the public at a fee of 10s. a year for the use of wireless sets of a design approved by the Statutory Authority and capable of receiving signals on one wave-length only. Licences will be issued for the operation of broadcasting stations; and manufacturers and traders who desire to sell wireless apparatus will have to take out licences at a nominal fee. Receiving licences will be withheld from persons who do not pay the annual subscription to the authorities operating the broadcasting stations; and dealers and traders will be required to collect the first year's subscription on all receiving sets they sell. There will be competitive broadcasting services, and the operating concerns will be left to give the class of service which they think will bring them the greatest number of subscribers. Retailers will only be allowed to sell wireless sets or parts to persons who hold receiving licences, and they will be required to keep a record of all sets or parts sold, together with the name address and licence number of the purchaser, and to notify these particulars to the operating companies concerned. Any person dealing in or using wireless apparatus without a licence will be liable to a penalty. The administra tion of the broadcasting regulations will be entrusted to a Board comprising representatives of the Government, the operating concerns, manufacturers, traders and the Press. Printed under the authority of HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE By Eyre and Spottiswoode, Ltd., East Harding Street, E.C. 4, |