History of Radio

  • The Beginning

    The Beginning
    Heinrich Hertz proves that you can send and receive electronic waves wireless.
  • The Tesla Coil

    The Tesla Coil
    Nikola Tesla develops the Tesla Coil which can transmit electricity wirelessly. This laid dow the basics for modern radio towers.
  • From Over the Pond

    From Over the Pond
    Guglielmo Marconi send the first transatlantic radio signal from the U.S. to the U.K.
  • We Need More Power

    We Need More Power
    The Audio Tube is developed as the first amplifier to push waves further by providing more power to the signal.
  • Time to Make Money

    Time to Make Money
    The radio station WEAF broadcasts the first commercial on air in 1922.
  • The Federal Radio Commission

    The Federal Radio Commission
    With the rise of radio broadcasting, the Federal Radio Commission (known as the Federal Communications Commission today) created call letters, power limits, and licensing laws.
  • More Regulation

    More Regulation
    The FRC further regulates radio broadcasting by assigning letter for stations East and West of the Mississippi.
  • Period: to

    The Golden Era of Radio

    Withe the Great Depression and War negatively affecting Americans, radio became an escape for them as they would listen to the radio with their family as a pastime. The diversity of radio also flourished with music, comedic, and dramas growing in popularity.
  • FM Radio

    FM Radio
    Edwin Armstrong creates FM radio with a higher dynamic range for music.
  • The Decline of Radio

    The Decline of Radio
    With the explosion of TV, radio saw a decline in popularity in the 1950s.