May 14 2007
‘Internet Radio Equality Act’ Could Preserve Internet Radio
GUEST: Frannie Wellings, Associate Policy Director at Free Press
In late April we brought to your attention that a little known Congressional panel had approved a big increase in royalties on digital music retroactive to 2006, for companies that stream music over the Internet. The ruling changed the traditional model of paying a percentage of profits to paying a flat rate per song streamed, and was expected to have a huge impact on internet radio and other community media, including Pacifica stations like KPFK that offer audio streaming. Internet broadcasters and National Public Radio filed an appeal to the Copyright Royalty Board earlier this month but were denied. But now there is hope on the horizon for internet radio. Last Thursday Senators Ron Wyden and Sam Brownback introduced a bill in the Senate that would overturn the Copyright Royalty Board’s decision. It’s called the ‘Internet Radio Equality Act’ and if passed, would return the webcasting industry to a percentage of profits model. Earlier, two Representatives introduced a companion bill in the House.
For more information visit www.freepress.net/netradio.
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