Shaping factors of the radio industry in the 1920s

When discussing a media as large as the radio, it is no wonder that a single factor cannot be credited for the streamlining of the industry that exploded in the 1920s.  Rather, one could argue that one factor played a larger role than others.  I believe that regulation and government intervention in the radio industry was the main force that influenced the shaping of the formation of the radio industry in the 1920s.  Most would argue that that main force was technological change, but while it is true that there would be no radio without technology, it was what the government did with this grand technology and how they used and manipulated it, that made the radio into the industry it was from the 1920s to around 1955. 

The government first became involved with the radio after the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912.  Although the message was late, it was an emergency call sent from a Marconi radio transmitter that brought help to the stray survivors.  The use of Marconi’s radio in such an important situation brought the device to the attention of the government and fear arose of a technology of such power being used by foreign enemies and amateurs bringing chaos to the airways.  The Navy then gained control of the technology but after WWI the government gave the radio back to the control of the public with a few strings attached.  The Radio Act of 1912 was passed forming the Federal Radio Commissions.  In 1926 the government sensed that a monopoly was forming in the industry, and the FRC forced the AT&T monopoly to sell their assets to the Radio Corporations of America, thereby forming competition.  The Radio Act of 1927 provided the government with the power to issue licensees to stations (required to have an airway), set standards that would be expected by the radio industry, and allocated the air frequencies.  The FRC later became the current Federal Communications Commissions, breaking up another monopoly (The RCA ironically; they did after all create it in a way) by forcing RCA to sell one of their networks to ABC.  The FCC assigned frequencies and licenses to promote competition, localism (awareness of news in home area), as well as prevent chaos on the airways. 

The regulation and government intervention with the radio really helped to pave the path that network radio took.  Government involvement influenced what type of shows would be aired, who would be talking, and when different shows would be heard.  This created a sense of community, and national pride, especially during WWII.  The Radio Act of 1927 was the first real intrusion of the government into the media industry, and it formed the long lasting relationship between the radio (and later many other medias such as television) and the government.