A bill that would save the Internet radio industry from a dramatic increase of fees webcasters pay to play music has gained the support of its 100th member of the US House of Representative. Introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL), the Internet Radio Equality Act (H.R. 2060) would vacate the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) decision that increased the royalty rates by 300-1200 percent over the next five years.
“Members of Congress are hearing loudly and clearly the passionate voices of webcasters, music fans and artists who have marched on Capitol Hill with their feet, their calls and their letters.
Reaching 100 cosponsors in three legislative weeks is extraordinary, and is a major milestone for tens of thousands of webcasters, millions of Internet Radio listeners, and thousands of artists invested in the future of Internet radio,” Jake Ward, a spokesperson for SaveNetRadio said.
SaveNetRadio is a national coalition comprised of hundreds of thousands of webcasters, artists, listeners and labels from throughout the country committed to preserving the future of Internet radio.
Legislation currently before Congress, H.R. 2060 and S. 1353 - the Internet Radio Equality Act - would vacate the Copyright Royalty Board’s decision and set a 2006-2010 royalty rate at the same level currently paid by satellite radio services (7.5% of revenue.) The bill would also change the royalty rate-setting standard used in royalty arbitrations, so that the standard applied to webcasters would align with that applied to satellite radio.
For more information on the SaveNetRadio coalition visit www.savenetradio.org.
(Source: SaveNetRadio/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)