[rollei_list] Fees for photography on public lends hearings

  • From: slobodan dimitrov <s.dimitrov@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: Leica Users Group <lug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, rolleiusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:23:46 -0800

I thought this might be of interest for those of you who shoot outdoors:


NPPA President Tony Overman is set to testify Wednesday, Dec. 12, before the House Committee on Natural Resources. NPPA General Counsel Mickey Osterreicher is set to assist Overman at the committee's hearing on "New Fees for Filming and Photography on Public Land," at the Longworth House Office Building in Washington.

We encourage you to view the hearing, live via webcast, at 10 a.m. EST Wednesday, at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/.

The hearing is to address concerns over the Department of the Interior's proposed revision to its filming regulations. Under the proposal, the department would establish a permit system for some commercial filming and photography in national parks and other federal lands. Some of the proposed revisions contradict a very acceptable set of regulations put forth in Law 106-206 by Congress in 2000. Specifically, the revisions call for fees on documentary films deemed "commercial," permits for audio taping and the denial of permits for still photography when deemed "inappropriate" by the agency.

The National Press Photographers Association opposes the proposed changes because they would expand restrictions on still photography in the parks. The NPPA also has concerns about the definition of commercial filming under the proposed statute, and the expansion of restrictions regulating audio recording.

The NPPA is sending representatives to this hearing to ensure professional visual journalists are represented as completely as possible, and to fulfill our mission to defend the rights and access afforded to journalists by the First Amendment.

For more information on the Department of the Interior’s proposed revisions, please visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-15845.htm.

Please check the News Section of www.nppa.org after the hearing for updates on this issue.
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