Political moves to stop the previously reported hike in royalty rates that the US Copyright Royalty Board recently ruled American web radio stations would have to pay gained more momentum on Friday when two Senators introduced their own Internet Radio Equality Bill, mirroring similar proposals already made by two members of the House Of Representatives. Senators Ron Wyden and Sam Brownback are behind the new bill, which aims to protect webcasters from the increased royalties, which many in the web radio sector argue gives traditional and satellite broadcasters an unfair advantage, and will put smaller web radio stations out of business. Confirming the bill, Wyden told reporters last week: "Keeping internet radio alive is part of a broader issue that is important to me - keeping the e-commerce engine running by preventing discrimination against it".
May 14, 2007
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1 min read
Second bill supports US webcasters
Senators Ron Wyden and Sam Brownback have introduced an Internet Radio Equality Bill to block increased webcasting royalty rates set by the Copyright Royalty Board.