Every Man a Broadcaster

Last week it seemed that "citizens' radios" (walkie-talkies for everybody) were just around the corner. Chairman Wayne Coy announced that one type had been approved by the Federal Communications

Commission. By the time the sets are on the market, the commission hopes to issue regulations making it "very simple" for a citizen to get a station license.

Walkie-talkies were widely used during the war, but since they are technically radio broadcasting stations, they require a license when used by civilians. Now that this obstacle is to be overcome, the 460-470 megacycle band may become a bedlam of walkie-talkie small talk.

Since FCC is not in the business of selling or publicizing radio sets, Chairman Coy did not go into any details. But radiomen predicted that the "tranceivers" (transmitters-plus-receivers) will have a range of one to two miles in cities, five to ten miles in open country. They will be tunable (with a screwdriver) to several frequencies, which will reduce interference somewhat. If many are sold (and the industry has great hopes), it will be a great day for the peeping Toms of radio.

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