10
Friday, February 20, 1976
University Dally Kansan
Growth of CB popularity brings more radio abuse
By JOHN THARP
Staff Writer
CB radios have replaced stereo as the number one electronics bestseller, according to industry reports. Since October, the number of CB radios has almost doubled. The Federal Communications Commission has estimated that the number of CB radios in the United States in October, 1975. Today, it estimates that more than 10 million Americans own and operate CBs.
In January 1975, 40,000 applications for FCC licenses were issued; 130,000 were requested last month. The FCC says, however, that 50 to 60 pc^2 of all operators are talking illegally because they don't have a radio service license.
The license cost $20 a year ago but has been reduced to $4. No examination is required.
On the highways, truck drivers are complaining about the irresponsible use of
"I was trying to get a smokey report, and couldn't get the channel because some lady was yuking about her sewing machine," she said. "I had to truckdriver who asked not to be identified."
"The reason for that is that some operators have not had the time to learn to respect the value of their radio," said Stuart Kowlaski. Wichita junior.
Kowlaski, an operator for six months,
complained recently about the crowded
stadium.
Cosmic Cowboy said he had noticed an increase in the conversational use of the truckers' road channel since the first of the year.
"Half of them (radies) are Christmas presents, like toys," he said. "People are always talking, never listening. That's how I know when people come in with mike (microphone) shy for a long time."
Cosmic Cowboy said CBs were valuable and described an accident in Missouri where a gasoline-laden tank truck crashed into the sidewalk, was learning previously over a creek.
"Three of us driver stopped, and I called a smoker and a tow truck, and they were gone."
Law enforcement agencies have also benefited from the use of CBs. The Missouri Highway Patrol equipped more than 700 patrol cars with CBs in July 1975. Statistics
show that the highway patrol logs 7,000 CBs a month.
About 50 Kansas Highway Patrol troopers have installed their own CBs in patrol cars. This figure has remained about the same since October 1975, according to Supt. Allen Rush. A plan to equip all patrol cars with CBs has been shelved in Kansas.
"Based on the information available to us, some states are becoming disenchanted with CBS," Rush said last week. Washington took them out of their patrol cars.
Rush thought "irresponsible transmissions" contributed to crowded airwaves. The patrol is having one dispatcher's office monitoring channel 9, the emergency call channel. In service since 1975, the airport station received 125 calls in January.
Persons who don't own CBS often complain that the radio interfere with stereo reception.
Sherry Elliott, FCC office manager in Kansas City, Mo., said that TV interference tops the list of complaints her office receives. The second most reported problem is the use of profanity on the air, she said...
The FCC is a government agency charged with regulating interstate and foreign communication. Besides CBs, the agency covers ham radio, business and municipal services and provides internet stations. The FCC employs slightly more than 1,700 persons, and more than one-
fourth of them are engaged in field engineering.
The Kansas City office covers Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska, and has three local engineers assigned to it. They are aided by 10 more engineers in Grand Island, Missouri, and have access to area and so few engineers, the FCC is pressed to effectively handle all complaints, Elliott said. There is a plan under way to add another division responsible only for Cars and hams, she said, and this would help reduce duties for more efficient regulation.
Although radio violations are punishable by fine, imprisonment and loss of license, Elliott said fines are usually the only action taken, with an average fine of $30 per vehicle.
"There is a drastic increase in the number of CB radio sheds this school year over last," said Mike Thomas, director of police and parking.
The Topics Police Dept. reported 178 CB shelters for January 1996, compared to 457 in September 2004.
On the lighter side, a number of operators are socializing off the air. CB clubs are forming, and they often sponsor dances, dinners, coffees and charity drives. Some groups have a special defense and police departments and assist these groups in emergency situations.
The River City CBZ Club, a Lawrence organization, has grown from 200 to 390 students.
AURH okays code
A code outlining the rights and responsibilities of residence hall dwellers was approved for submittal to the Administrative Housing Board last night.
The Association of University Residence Halls (AURH) approved the code without discussion because these sections could not be used in conjunction with Harry Wimer, president of AURH, said.
A selection process for resident directors of the residence halls, which will be submitted to the offices of the Dean of Men and of Women, was also approved by the AURH.
Wigner said that if the selection process was approved, it would be the first time residents would be involved in the selection of the resident directors.
The proposed selection process would establish an interview committee whose members would be students on the residence hall staffs and a representative from the Dean of Men or the Dean of Women.
In other action, Wigner announced that J. J. Wilson, director of the residence halls system, had proposed a fund for the improvement of public areas in the residence
Wigner said the fund would be financed by Wilson's office. The fund proposal is being submitted to the housing services committee for how the money can be used, be said.
An AUHI task force on security in the residence halls requested additional time to complete a task.
rehearsed program will be a contra bassoon duet "Sweet and Low" featuring Bryant Freeman, professor of French and Italian, and John M. Pauk, assistant professor of wind and percussion.
In honor of the bicentennial, the works of John Phillip Boozer, American composer, including "National Anathema," will be on display at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Swarthout teccal Hall.
No, it's not April 1. It's the fifth annual Faculty Follies, a musical lamppoon which is produced each year by Pi Kappa Lambda, national music honor society, as a benefit for scholarships for outstanding music students.
Musical inanity faculty foolery generate funds
The River Semi-Pro Musica Chorale will be directed by James Ralston, associate professor of choral music, and the River City Filledharmonia Band will be directed by James Moeser, dean of the School of Fine Arts.
Highlighting the spontaneous, lightly
ANDRE OBEY'S NOAH THE SEARCH FOR A GOLDEN AGE
HATCHET DAYS WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY SELL-A-BRATION
Saturday, Feb. 21 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Our Buying Mistakes Are Classified Information