WHRB May Broadcast On FM by Next Year

WHRB may begin open broadcasting to Boston and the surrounding communities on FM next year, Geoffry Kalmus '56, president of the station, announced last night.

Although the plans are not yet definite, it seems probable that the addition of FM broadcasting may be a necessity within the next few years if the Federal Communications Commission decides to impose stricter radiation laws on college radio, Kalmus said.

The station should have reached a decision before the end of the term, Kalmus indicated.

The change would greatly increase the listening audience since broadcasting would be on the open air rather than through the University's electric system which is now used. The Faculty and Radcliffe, which cannot now hear WHRB, would be able to receive it.

The new audience would probably not affect programming, Kalmus explained. "It will still be primarily for the Harvard community." He said that present plans include the continuation of AM broadcasting.

Committee Studies Plans

A committee is now studying plans for the switch including the purchase of "several thousand dollars" worth of new equipment, according to Kalmus. A new transmitter would have to be acquired for the station which is located in Dudley Hall, a University owned building.

He said that FM broadcasting would better serve the audience by presenting higher fidelity broadcasting, and also provide somewhat broader training for personnel. There seems to be a move to FM in the Ivy Network. The Princeton station has already switched to FM.

Before any final decision, Kalmus said, the University as well as the full board of WHRB would have to approve. Any changes however, could be engineered by the present staff, he explained. No increase in the present schedule of 95 hours per week of broadcasting is planned.