This is the History section of
The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by:
Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
Last update: 4/23/09

How was early radio regulated?

Before 1910, there were no restrictions on who could build and operate a radio station. Regulation began following the Berlin Convention in 1906, which was where call letters were first assigned to individual nations.

Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation:

Original regulation fell under the purview of the Secretary of the DOC. The Radio Act of June 24, 1910 led to the creation of the Radio Division of the DOC on July 11, 1911. It quickly became clear the new medium was outrunning the legal system. Court challenges rapidly diluted the minimal control exercised by the Commerce Department.

The Federal Radio Commission:

The FRC was created February 23, 1927, by the Radio Act of 1927 to deal with the 732 stations now on the air. While progress was made, and some of the regulations tried to "catch up" with the fledgling industry, this Act did not close all the regulatory loopholes, leading toward ...

The Federal Communications Commission:

Further regulatory needs were filled with the Communications Act of 1934, when the FCC was created. It opened on 7/11/34. With some modifications by Congress, this has served as the basis for Communications Law ever since.

How can I find original records of broadcast stations?

The FCC has a library and information on all current broadcast stations, available in the Public Referene Reading Room (CY-A257) at the FCC offices in "The Portal" at 445 12th Street SW in Washington, DC (Metro: Smithsonian or L'Efant Plaza Stations). However, for most individual station files, you must make a request the materials in advance of the date you wish to see them.

How can I get information about a station that went off the air in 1925?

All station records prior to 1984 and all stations that have ceased operation are sent to the archives at the Washington National Records Center in Suitland, MD, where these records live (?). Again, a request must be made at the FCC Public Information Reading Room is needed to have the records made available for inspection. 

The condition of the records is deteriorating, as can be seen from the following pictures of the 52-A-51 series of archives. Yes, they are kept in boxes as shown. The manila folders are acid based, so when you pick your way through these brittle folders, your hands start to "burn" slightly. Still, seeing the original licenses for some of the pioneer stations is quite a thrill for the intrepid researcher. (Pictured below is James Snyder, HDTV engineer, and Oldradio researcher.)

Station License and Logging notes

• Stations were initially required to log parameters every half hour. This was partially due to the relative instability of transmitters of the time. A directional station, with multiple towers, might require an "unending" series of readings, as it could take a half an hour to visit each tower in the array, even in good weather.

• Remote control permits began in 1950 for low power education stations. In 1952, most non-directional stations were permitted remote control, and in 1957, directional stations were permitted remote control, with some limitations.

• 1969: Stations with "Approved Sampling Systems" could log the tower currents remotely, a major boon to the engineers, especially in bad weather!

• 1972: The requirement to log station parameters every half hour was changed to every three hours.

• 1973: Directional stations were allowed to log parameters remotely.

• 1977: An ATS (Automatic Transmission System) was adopted for completely unattended stations that met certain requirements.

• 1984: The end of the required "Fail Safe" system on remote controls (to prevent loss of control) was dropped, allowing dial-up telephone based remote control.

• 1988: Periodic logging was dropped as a requirement, although someone had to be "charged with control" at all times.

Licenses for Operators

• 1927: The Radio Act of 1927 included requirements that station operators be licensed.
• 1934: The Communications Act of 1934 specifically required the FCC the license operators.
  • The primary license was the First Class RadioTelephone license (there was also a First Class RadioTelegraph license, but it was not good for broadcast).
  • A Second Class RadioTelephone license was granted to some, but they could not operate a station on their own.
• 1942: During the massive call-up for World War II, many stations faced going off the air, as many licensed operators were drafted.
  • Within months, lesser grade operators, including those holding a Restricted RadioTelephone license, were permitted to operate stations under the direction of the station's main First Class operator, called the Chief Engineer or Chief Operator. This started with stations running 100 Watts or less.
• 1947: The accommodation for Restricted Permit operators was dropped, and First Phones were required again for all stations.
• 1953: After lobbying by industry trade groups, a new class of  Third Class RadioTelephone Restricted Permits was set up that permitted operation of non-directional AM stations under 10 kW and FM stations with up to 10 kW of transmitter power (TPO). At least one First Phone was still required at these stations and at all times for all other stations (even 250 Watt directional stations).
• 1963: Observing the industry self-policing was inadequate, the FCC introduced a new Broadcast Endorsement to the Third Phone permits, turning them into licenses. Operating parameters were the same as the Restricted Permits, although FM stations with at TPO of up to 25 kW could now be operated by holders of this license.
• 1968: The influx of combo operators (DJs in charge of the transmitters) as Top 40 and other music formats grew, led to another shortage of operators. A one year Provisional Certificate was designed to allow operation until an operator could be tested (the FCC usually gave tests twice a year in "outlying" areas).
• 1972: Operation of high power and directional stations was now permitted by Third Phone (Broadcast Endorsed) operators. Stations now had to designate a Chief Operator who was to inspect the station regularly (i.e., within two hours of commencement of directional operation). A CO could only be CO at one station (or AM/FM combo)
• 1978: From late 1978 to 1981, most all requirements were slowly but sure removed. The Restricted Permit was reinstated as the "normal" level of most operators, subject to the station's Chief Operator - who himself was only required to have a Restricted Permit..
• 1980: The Third Phone was discontinued.
• 1985: Under continued lobbying from the NAB, the First Phone was discontinued, as far as Broadcast use was concerned. Existing licensees were granted a Lifetime General Class RadioTelephone license.
• 1992: The Restricted Permit was dropped, and anyone could operate any station. 

Some more detailed information on the history of station and operator licenses is found on Harold Hallikainen's site: www.hallikainen.org