Beginnings Broadcasting in the United States

circa 1910 penny postcard depicting fessenden s radio tower @ brant rock, massachusetts.

in 1901 reginald aubrey fessenden made significant step toward possibility of broadcasting when succeeded in superimposing human voice onto continuous hertzian wave. success in experiment created need more advanced equipment, including alternating-current generator large enough produce necessary power carry transmissions. fessenden received backing of t.h. given , hay walker jr. contributed money purchase powerful generator general electric. had installed @ brant rock, ma, , @ 9pm local time on december 24, 1906, began broadcast heard several united fruit company ships @ sea. after introduction, program consisted of following:

a recording of handel s largo on ediphone
fessenden s own live violin performance of o holy night, singing last verse played
a recitation of seasonal passages bible, planned fessenden s wife helen , secretary miss bent; when women suffered mike fright, fessenden read passages

the broadcast christmas greetings , request listeners write him , report on broadcast wherever were. fessenden received letters many of listeners heard him far away west indies.

many individuals continued experiment own methods of broadcasting. example, charles herrold of san jose, california sent out broadcasts april 1909 herrold school electronics institute in downtown san jose, using identification san jose calling, , variety of different call signs united states department of commerce began regulate radio. station first called fn, sjn (probably illegally). 1912, government began requiring radio operators obtain licenses send out signals. herrold received licenses 6xf , 6xe (a mobile transmitter) in 1916. on air daily decade when world war interrupted operations.

the involvement of united states in world war bring changes take broadcasting out of hobbyist’s workshop , on grand stage. united states navy use broadcasting relay messages between ships, airplanes, , shore stations throughout war. result of navy’s demand broadcasting mass production of radio equipment simplified construction , operation requirements readily used common man. receivers westinghouse scr-70 single, self-contained unit required minimal technical ability. following war, these units plentiful , reasonably priced virtually every american own one. wide availability led realization of market included everyone.