RADIO - THE MILESTONES
 

	1873	James Clerk Maxwell identifies electromagnetic waves with light as their visible manifestation
	1887	Heinrich Hertz demonstrates the existence of radio waves, predicted by Maxwell
	1894	Sir Oliver Lodge unveils a "coherer" to detect radio waves, and demonstrates that radio could be used for signalling
	1895	GUGLIELMO MARCONI DEVELOPS A MORE PRACTICAL MEANS OF SENDING AND RECEIVING RADIO SIGNALS, BUT THE ITALIAN AUTHORITIES ARE UNIMPRESSED
	1896	Marconi demonstrates his system in Britain, and files his first patent
	1898	First use of radio in naval manoeuvres
	1899	First international radio communication, between England and France
	1899	First distress call, from the East Goodwin lightship
	1901	FIRST TRANSATLANTIC COMMUNICATION, BETWEEN CORNWALL AND NEWFOUNDLAND
	1904	Ambrose Fleming invents the thermionic valve, improving the performance of radio receivers
	1904	Government introduces radio licence fees on the basis of recovering administrative costs
	1906	Lee de Forest adds an extra element to Fleming's diodes, his triodes improve reception and allow amplification
	1906	Crystals identified as a good detector of radio signals. In the early 1920s the crystal set, adjusted by the "cat's whisker" (fine wire) became a low-cost way of receiving early broadcasts
	1909	1,700 people rescued from the SS Republic: the Marconi radio operator sent 200 signals to guide rescuers
	1910	WIFE-KILLER DR CRIPPEN ARRESTED WHILE FLEEING TO CANADA
	1912	700 RESCUED FROM THE TITANIC - "THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH ONE MAN, MR MARCONI" SAID LORD SAMUEL, POSTMASTER GENERAL
	1918	Wireless Telegraphy Board created to co-ordinate moves to avoid radio interference
	1920	First advertised broadcasts in Britain, including a June recital by Dame Nellie Melba
	1922	Marconi Company sets up London broadcasting station - 2LO - that was subsequently taken over by the British Broadcasting Company (later Corporation)
	1925	Westinghouse Company in Pittsburgh starts international broadcasting
	1925	John Logie Baird demonstrates television at Selfridges
	1929	Marconi's network linking Britain with Argentina, Brazil, the USA and Canada becomes Cable and Wireless Ltd
	1932	BRITISH EMPIRE SERVICE - FORERUNNER OF THE BBC WORLD SERVICE - BROADCASTS FROM DAVENTRY
	1932	Marconi installs first microwave telephone link between the Vatican and the Pope's official residence
	1932	International Telegraph Union (ITU) becomes International Telecommunication Union reflecting its role in radio communications
	1936	BBC Television Service begins (but is suspended during the war)
	1937	Guglielmo Marconi dies in Italy: wireless stations observe two-minutes radio silence
	1945	Arthur C Clarke proposes geostationery satellites for global communications
	1947	ITU becomes a specialised agency of the United Nations, creates the International Frequency Registration Board
	1949	Wireless Telegraphy Act gives management of the radio spectrum to the General Post Office
	1952	Start of ITU technical co-operation activities
	1952	Single television standard of 625 lines at 50 frames/second proposed for Europe
	1953	Radio Amateurs Emergency Network (RAYNET) formed by the Radio Society of Great Britain following extensive flooding
	1955	ITV begins broadcasting
	1957	FIRST SATELLITE - SPUTNIK 1 - GOES INTO ORBIT
	1962	Telstar satellite allows live transatlantic television transmissions
	1964	BBC2 BEGINS BROADCASTING
	1966	Live pictures broadcast from the moon
	1967	Marine Broadcasting Offences Act makes it illegal to advertise on pirate stations like Radio London and Radio Caroline
	1967	Radio 1 begins broadcasting
	1967	BBC2 introduces colour
	1969	BBC1 and ITV introduce colour
	1969	Post Office Act moves radio spectrum management to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
	1971	First World Telecommunication Exhibition and Forum in Geneva
	1973	Independent radio begins in the UK
	1974	Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications dissolved - radio spectrum management moves to the Radio Regulatory Division of the Home Office
	1982	CHANNEL 4 BEGINS BROADCASTING
	1983	World Communications Year
	1983	Radio Regulatory Division moves from Home Office to Department of Trade and Industry
	1984	Telecommunications Bill splits GPO and creates British Telecom and Oftel
	1985	Cellnet and Vodafone offer cellular phones
	1986	DTI's Radio Regulatory Division becomes Radiocommunications Division
	1989	Sky satellite television begins
	1990	RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS AGENCY FORMED UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S NEXT STEPS PROGRAMME
	1992	Independent national radio begins with Classic FM
	1992	Rabbit telepoint service begins in May
	1993	First World Radiocommunication Conference and Assembly in Geneva
	1993	Rabbit telepoint service ends in December
	1993	Private Business Radio licensing moves from London to the regions - the start of devolved licensing
	1994	Orange launches PCN services
	1994	CELLNET LAUNCHES DIGITAL (GSM) SERVICE
	1996	White Paper on Spectrum Management into the 21st Century proposes that licences should reflect the economic value of the spectrum (see 1904)
	1997	Channel 5 begins broadcasting
	1997	Digital standards agreed
	1998	Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998 introduces spectrum pricing based on economic value not administrative cost
	1998	Digital broadcasting begins
	2000	UK Third generation mobile phone auction
	2000	PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR AN OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS - OFCOM - SEE PREVIOUS PAGE
	2001	THE MARCONI CENTRE OPENS AT POLDHU ON 12 DECEMBER. SPONSORS ARE THE NATIONAL TRUST, MARCONI PLC AND POLDHU AMATEUR RADIO CLUB. THE CENTRE IS PART CLUBHOUSE, PART VISITOR CENTRE. RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS AGENCY DONATES EQUIPMENT

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Contents

Introduction

Radio Crosses the Atlantic

Radio Today

Office of Communications

Radio Milestones

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