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Progressivism vs. radio amateurs
As radio use spreads, amateurs run rampant on the airways, prompting the Progressives in Congress to hem them in; eventually, they essentially succeed in severely limiting their access and capabilities permanently with the Radio Act of 1927 (Goodman, 2017). Goodman, M. (2017, March). The Radio Act of 1927 as a product of progressivism. Media History Monographs, (2, 2). Mississippi State University. https://blogs.elon.edu/mhm/files/2017/03/Media-History-Monographs-Volume-2-Number-2.pdf -
Radio Ship Act of 1910
Mandates U.S. ships traveling over 200 miles off the coast and carrying more than 60 people to be equipped with wireless radio equipment with a range of 100 miles; also, possibly the first regular usage of the term "radio" (The story of..., 2017). The story of an old timer: Wireless Ship Act. (2017, February 28). NIST. https://www.nist.gov/pml/nbsnist-radio-stations-story-old-timer/story-old-timer-navy/story-old-timer-wireless-ship-act Photo credit: Science Museum Group Collection -
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British-based company Marconi dominates American radio
The march of events: America in control of its wireless. (1922, May). The World's Work (XLIV, 1; pp. 11-12). Google Books. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_World_s_Work/ZW0AAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA11&printsec=frontcover -
sinking of the Titanic
Due to Guglielmo Marconi, the "father of radio," maintaining a monopoly that kept other, perhaps more advanced, systems from being used, the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic could be said to have been largely caused by issues with radio communication. This would then inspire Congress to pass the Radio Act of 1912 (Kovarik, n.d.). Kovarik, B. (n.d.). Radio and the Titanic. Revolutions in Communication. https://revolutionsincommunication.com/features/radio-and-the-titanic/ -
Radio Act of 1912
In its first really big move in regulating/controlling broadcasts (radio or tv) in the U.S. since the Wireless Ship Act, the government enacts the Radio Act of 1912, which creates a licensing system that is still unevenly applied to this day (Broadcast Radio and Television, n.d.). Broadcast Radio and Television. (n.d.). LII/Legal Information Institute. Law.Cornell.edu. https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/amendment-1/broadcast-radio-and-television -
The U.S. enters World War I
The United States' involvement in World War I prompts then-President Woodrow Wilson to issue a proclamation closing down "all stations not necessary for naval communication" and giving control over all other [non-government] stations to the Secretary of the Navy ("Navy's control," 1918). Navy's control of radio a big factor in war: Important military and commercial results obtained from seizures of stations. (1918, December 12). New York Herald, 2. https://earlyradiohistory.us/1918navy.htm -
Formation of RCA
The U.S. government supports a monopoly over radio by American companies GE, Westinghouse, ATT, Western Electric, and The United Fruit Company as means of maintaining control after WWI prevent dominance by the British Marconi Company (Millard, 2023). Millard, A. (2023). Antitrust prosecution forces RCA to restructure. EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/antitrust-prosecution-forces-rca-restructure -
Westinghouse launches KDKA in Pittsburgh
A revolutionary event, manufacturing company Westinghouse establishes the radio station KDKA in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, making "the world's first scheduled broadcast" (It started hear, 1970). It started hear. (1970). [KDKA promotional pamphlet]. worldhistory.com. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/It-Started-Hear-KDKA.pdf -
AT&T launches WEAF in New York/Develops network broadcasting
The world's first radio commercial is broadcast via "toll broadcasting" station WEAF in New York (Schneider, n.d.). The ATT-operated station pioneered the development of network broadcasting. Schneider, J. (n.d.). A virtual tour of WEAF in 1927. The Radio Historian. http://www.theradiohistorian.org/weaf/weaf.html -
Radio Act of 1927/Creation of the FCC
Establishes the purposely-vague "PICAN" standard for broadcast licenses that stipulates the broadcast must operate in the "public interest, convenience, and necessity," effectively marginalizing amateur radio enthusiasts permanently (Goodman, 2017). Goodman, M. (2017, March). The Radio Act of 1927 as a product of progressivism. Media History Monographs, (2, 2). Mississippi State University. https://blogs.elon.edu/mhm/files/2017/03/Media-History-Monographs-Volume-2-Number-2.pdf -
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FCC Licensing Freeze
Overwhelmed with TV license applications, the FCC issues a freeze on all new licenses for almost four years, mostly benefitting established, urban network affiliates like NBC and CBS (Wirth, 2018; Ponce De Leon, 2015). Ponce De Leon, C.L. (2015, May 4). That's the way it is: A history of television news in America. [Excerpt]. University of Chicago Press. https://press.uchicago.edu/books/excerpt/2015/De_Leon_Thats_Way_It_Is.html -
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Single-Sponsor Programming: The Burns and Allen Show
In the Golden Age, ad agencies would develop a show around a single product, like Carnation Evaporated Milk (Meyers, 2021). Meyers, C. B. (2021, August 23). Advertisers and American broadcasting: From institutional sponsorship to the creative revolution. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/business-history-review/article/abs/advertisers-and-american-broadcasting-from-institutional-sponsorship-to-the-creative-revolution/6D08BBA16A832D1FD094AB02B2A26EDC -
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The Quiz Show Scandal/End of Single-Sponsor TV Shows
After contestant Charles Van Doren is outed as a fraud, with his huge win on the quiz show Twenty One having been rigged in order to appease their sponsor, Geritol, Congressional hearings are held, laws are passed, and the ubiquity of single-sponsor programming dies (Quiz show scandals, 1997). Quiz show scandals. (1997). Encyclopedia of Television. Museum of Broadcast Communications. https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/topics/quiz-show-scandals