In what ways and why did the federal government promote or regulate
the invention of radio, television, and computer industries in the
U.S. from 1912-1950?

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Request for Question Clarification by drjmetz-ga on 09 Aug 2002 10:28 PDT

Can you be more specific?  You're asking a question that could be
researched to the point of a doctoral dissertation (I should know,
I've done one on a very similar topic).
.
I'm interested in why you chose 1912 as your starting point, and 1950
as your ending point.  The closest major milestones are 1913 and 1956
(as they relate to your question).

Thanks!

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Clarification of Question by javier14-ga on 09 Aug 2002 11:19 PDT

You're right.  Several others I've consulted have told me I'm asking
for too much here.  I'm mostly trying to determine what role the FCC
played in regulating radio in that time period (there was a
significant change in the 1930s?).  Could you suggest one or two good
sources that would provide a good overview for me?

Hello,

The most significant change wast the creation of the FCC itself in
1934.

The most comprehensive overview I have found is Fritz Messere's
article on regulation for the Encyclopedia of Radio
(http://www.oswego.edu/~messere/RadioReg.pdf).

Marvin Bensman (http://www.people.memphis.edu/~mbensman/welcome.html)
has written a book called The Beginning of Broadcast Regulation in the
Twentieth Century.

Visit the FCC page (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/engrser.html)
and scroll down to "Early radio." This is a list of reports, decisions
and other documents from the early days of the FCC and its
predecessors.

Thomas E. White's "United States Early Radio History"
(http://www.ipass.net/~whitetho/part3.htm) has a chapter on early
government regulation.

Barry Mishkind's Broadcast FAQ
(http://www.oldradio.com/current/bc_faq.htm) has a page about early
regulation.

The Standard Handbook of Video and Engineering
(http://www.tvhandbook.com/History/History_radio.htm) notes the FCC
did the following things in its first year (1934-35):

" First broadcast license denied (KGIX, Las Vegas) for failure to
complete its construction as required.
 Current ownership information required from broadcast stations. 
 Hearings held on non-profit educa|ion broadcasting allocations. 
 Allocations for clear and other channels (with several stations
operating simultaneously at night) to be surveyed.
 First amateur license revoked." 
 
Please request clarification if you need anything else.

Search strategy:

history radio regulation
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=history+radio+regulation

FCC regulation 30s
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=FCC+regulation+30s

FCC radio 30s
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=FCC+radio+30s

Federal Communications Commission radio history
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=Federal+Communications+Commission+radio+history

Thank you very much.  This helps me tremendously.

Wow, this question helped with my own presentation.  Thanks!