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| Update on H.R. 2060 from Congressman Manzullo |
by Garrinka |
2007-05-09 08:56:37 |
from my inbox :
Dear Tracy,
Thank you for contacting me about the recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board to raise royalty rates. It is good to hear from you.
As you may know, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) set new rates and terms for digital performances of sound recordings on March 2, 2007. These royalties are to be paid by internet radio stations that stream music online and are assessed per performance, which would result in a payment for each song every time the song is played. The rates and terms set in this proceeding apply to the period of January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010.
Like you, I believe that the CRB's decision dramatically and unfairly increases webcaster royalty rates. Though this decision increases the cost by only fractions of a penny per song, the change amounts to a 300 percent cost increase for the largest webcasters and up to a 1200 percent increase for smaller operations. An increase of this magnitude puts the entire future of the internet radio industry in jeopardy and could possibly end the access to music over the Internet for more than 70 million Americans.
That is why I recently introduced H.R. 2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act, with my colleague Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA). This legislation would reverse the decision of the CRB and set a 2006-2010 royalty rate at the same level currently paid by satellite radio services (7.5 percent of revenue). The bill would also change the royalty rate-setting standard used in royalty arbitrations in order to align the standards applying to webcasters with those that apply to satellite radio royalty arbitrations.
The Internet has provided us with amazing opportunities to enjoy music, and this unfair action by the Copyright Royalty Board threatens to take it all away. My legislation overturns the huge rate increases and sets up a system that is fair to webcasters, web users , and the artists whose music we all enjoy. M ost importantly, H.R. 2060 will keep music playing on the Internet.
H.R. 2060 has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce where it awaits further consideration. Please rest assured that I will do all that I can to see this important legislation enacted.
Thank you again for contacting me about this issue. Your input is important to my work here in Washington .
Sincerely,
/m/
Donald A. Manzullo
Member of Congress
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[ Reply ] |
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I would love to vote for this guy | by krisguy | 2007-05-09 09:00:04 |
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