i wrote to eddie about the internet radio about 7 months ago, he now just gets back to me with this, if your going to take 7 months to get back to people you can at least to a better job with the letter
Dear Joe:
Thank you for contacting me regarding Internet radio issues.
I am concerned about certain aspects of the recent decision by the
Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) to increase the rates for streaming
online radio, and I share your concern about the detrimental effect this
decision could have on webcasters, particularly small or non-
commercial operators.
The CRB decided in early March to increase the royalties that Internet
radio services must pay to record labels and recording artists. These
royalties, already higher than those that traditional over-the-air radio
stations or satellite radio stations are forced to pay, would be paid on a
per song, per listener basis. They would be increased retroactively to
2006 and run through 2010.
Shortly after the CRB's announcement, I chaired a House
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet hearing and
voiced my strong concerns. Not only do the new royalties widen the
gap between that which different industries must pay, they potentially
stifle emerging radio broadcasters and undermine the prospects for
greater diversity and localism in the radio marketplace. The Internet
offers an opportunity for diversity and localism in radio to flourish, and
that is something that I have long supported. I also believe that just
compensation for artists can be achieved in a more equitable manner.
Thank you for your interest in this matter. As Congress looks more
closely at this issue, please be assured I will continue to advocate for a
more sensible approach to copyright issues in the radio marketplace.