The Zenith‐WJAZ case and the chaos of 1926–27

The straw that broke the camel's back of the Radio Act of 1912 with respect to broadcasting was the Zenith‐WJAZ case and the “chaos” that followed the overturning of the regulatory agency's authority by the court. This chaos, in the form of interference from stations frantically searching for a clear frequency, led to the greatly strengthened Radio Act of 1927 and to the present Communications Act of 1934. Marvin R. Bensman is assistant professor in the Department of Speech and Drama of Memphis State University, and earned his Ph.D. in 1969 from the University of Wisconsin.