for those who broadcast, FW: From the Desk of Senator Claire McCaskill

From: "Christy Schulte" <christy@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Winamp4theblind@Freelists. Org" <winamp4theblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 09:58:01 -0500

Got this from my senator here in Missouri. I thought those of you who do
broadcasting using shoutcast, and those of us who listen, might be
interested in the information. My point isn't to start another debate that
would be a bit off topic, but since it does affect a lot of winamp users
directly I hope it's acceptable to send this.

-----Original Message-----
From: Senator McCaskill [mailto:senator__mcccaskill@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 9:47 AM
To: christy@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: From the Desk of Senator Claire McCaskill

Dear Ms. Schulte:

Thank you for your letter regarding Internet radio royalty rates. This is an
important issue in the rapidly evolving world of digital media, and one that
I am monitoring with keen interest.

As you know, the Copyright Royalty Board, the body charged with setting
royalty rates, issued a ruling on March 2, 2007, to set the fee schedule for
Internet broadcasters, or webcasters, for the period of January 1, 2006, to
December 31, 2010. Many webcasters have expressed concern that the new rates
are too high and will put them at a significant disadvantage vis-à-vis other
broadcasters or will cause them to go out of business altogether.
Reportedly, several webcasters, including National Public Radio, will soon
be appealing the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

You will be pleased to know that Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA) has
introduced legislation, The Internet Radio Equality Act (H.R. 2060), which
would nullify the decision of the Copyright Royalty Judges. The bill would
establish a five-year transition period, effective as of January 1, 2006,
during which webcasters could elect to pay a royalty rate of either .33
cents per hour of recording transmitted to a single listener or 7.5 percent
of total revenues. New criteria would also be established on which the
Copyright Royalty Judges would base royalty rulings for subsequent periods.
The bill has been referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary and
Energy and Commerce.

I will keep a close watch on future developments concerning this case. With
the rapidly changing technology, we must first make sure we protect
consumers, but we also have to be aware of the impact these new technologies
have on musicians and the economic viability of their work.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please do so again whenever you have
questions or concerns about issues affecting you.

All best,
Senator Claire McCaskill

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for those who broadcast, FW: From the Desk of Senator Claire McCaskill

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