Internet Radio Can Be Saved

It is not to late to save internet radio from the royalty fee structure that is about to be imposed. Congressmen Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Mazullo (R-IL) introduced H.R. 2060 the Internet Radio Equality Act which would save internet radio from the new excessively high fee structure. H.R. 2060 currently has 33 cosponsors.

Proposing new legislation was the first step but would not have meant much if the legislation is not enacted. Thankfully, the Copyright Royalty Board has extended the date on which fees are due from May 15th to July 15th. Congress now has the opportunity to consider this legislation. With enough response Congress may feel pressed to act on the issue now.

This legislation is key to keeping internet radio alive. Jake Wade of SaveInternetRadio reasons that this legislation is key to saving internet radio, "Millions of Internet radio listeners, webcasters and artists are fighting for the very future of the vibrant industry they depend on, and today they brought that fight to Congress," Jake Ward from SaveNetRadio said. "The threat looming over Internet radio is very real and will not discriminate. The royalty rate increase imposed by the Copyright Royalty Board will bankrupt small webcasters immediately and put larger webcasters out of business in the coming months. No one benefits from an increase in royalty rates that will bankrupt the industry. As Pandora's Joe Kennedy has said repeatedly, "dead webcasters pay no royalties."