Editing Federal Radio Commission (section)

====General Order 32====
{{Main|General Order 32}}

On May 3, 1927, the FRC made the first of a series of temporary frequency assignments, which served to reassign the stations operating on Canadian frequencies, and also eliminate "split-frequency" operations that fell outside of the standard of transmitting on frequencies evenly divided by 10&nbsp;kHz.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=60 "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits"], ''Radio Service Bulletin'', April 30, 1927, pages 6-14.</ref> The FRC conducted a review and census of the existing stations, then notified them that if they wished to remain on the air they had to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=205 "Extension of Broadcasting Station Licenses"], ''Radio Service Bulletin'', December 31, 1927, page 7.</ref>

After reviewing the applications, on May 25, 1928, the FRC issued General Order 32, which notified 164 stations that the initial review had found their justification for receiving a license insufficient, and they would have to attend a hearing in Washington, D.C. Moreover, "At this hearing, unless you can make an affirmative showing that public interest, convenience, or necessity will be served by the granting of your application, it will be finally denied."<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.c021003683&view=1up&seq=182 "Letter to and list of stations included in General Order No. 32, issued May 25, 1928"], ''Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission'' (year ending June 30, 1928), pages 147-150.</ref>

Many low-powered independent stations were eliminated, although eighty-one stations did survive, most with reduced power. Educational stations fared particularly poorly. They were usually required to share frequencies with commercial stations and operate during the daytime, which was considered of limited value for adult education.