Regulation and Government Intervention

     Prior to the 1912 disaster involving the Titanic, there were practically no types of regulations, guidelines, or boundaries placed upon broadcasting through radio. Pretty much anybody who could afford to purchase a radio kit, could start broadcasting on their own. The initial technology that was radio, was somewhat more geared to men and young boys. It was a sort of hobby that would help bond a father and his son together. The problem was that thousands upon thousands of people began to pick up on this new hobby and with that came a huge overflow of radio broadcast. However, after the Titanic incident, the American government developed a handful of new regulations that would restrict and help shape radio broadcasting become what it is today. 

     Regulations and Government Intervention are necessary parts of the radio industry. In general, if it were not for the Governments initiative to step in and put guidelines and restrictions on the use of broadcasting over radio, our country would be in absolute chaos. This force works by limiting what can and can't be said over the airwaves, such as foul language or anything that can spark fear or immediate danger to listeners. It also placed restrictions as to who can broadcast and under what frequencies in order to keep traffic to a minimum and to control who could access the airwaves. The purpose of these boundaries was to keep things from getting out of control and to ensure that the country was safe from harm. 

     Such regulations and acts by the US Government ultimately affected the evolution of America's radio system. An example of this is came in 1912 when Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover was given authority to allocate radio frequencies. This was the first step in the government's attempt to take control of radio broadcasting. Next, during World War I, the United States Navy took control of all radio. They forced manufacturers to pool patents to improve radio technology and equipment. By the early 1920's radio was standardized and formatted for daily and weekly schedules. then, perhaps the biggest form of regulation came in the form of the Radio Act of 1927. This established standard broadcast bands and set standards. Furthermore, it allocated frequencies and required stations to gain licenses in order to be able to broadcast on the airwaves.