Save Internet Radio
From NPR via KEXP:
On Friday, March 2, 2007, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) released a
decision that will dramatically increase the royalties payments owed to
rights holders to stream sound recordings of music offered on the
internet. This includes public radio websites. Responding to requests
from several parties (including NPR, representing public radio), the
Board then granted a rehearing on this issue, with written arguments due
on April 2.
The decision by the CRB affects all public radio stations because it:
- Eliminates the distinction between noncommercial and commercial media
- Requires complicated record-keeping that will place a huge burden on stations
- Penalizes public radio for fulfilling its statutorily-mandated mission of bringing new, culturally enriching programming to the American public
- Sets a chilling precedent for future rights discussions, negotiations and litigation that may undermine non-commercial public service programming
More information from NPR and PBS can be found at Tell Them Public Matters.
ibiblio hosts several Internet Radio that may be greatly affected by this decision. Below we provide several links with more information on the issue.
How can you help?
You can contact your representatives on Capitol Hill to alert them to this decision and its potential negative impact on your station an
d public radio. Use your zip code to search for contact info:
U.S. Senate
www.senate.gov
U.S. House of Representatives
www.house.gov
In addition to the points above, your message(s) to your representative(s) might include that public radio is asking for a reasonable so
lution to this issue, a solution that:
- respects the property rights of the artists and recording companies
- eliminates burdensome bureaucratic recordkeeping
- reduces costs of the CRB and SoundExchange (the industry recordkeeping agency)
- ensures that the public is served on the internet as it is served by public radio through broadcasting
last revised: May 17, 2007