Public Politics

The Copyright Protection Board recently handed down a royalties ruling that was initially due to come into effect on May 15,2007. Had it done so, many Internet Radio Broadcasters would have gone silent because the ruling calls for a whopping 300% increase in royalties and fees, a jump that would put many out of business. The CRPB has since extended the deadline to July 15th, hardly enough time for the bipartisan counter legislation (H.R. 2060) to get out of the two committees it has now been referred to and up for a floor vote.

So was the legislation (H.R. 2060), proposed by Washington Democrat Jay Inslee and Illinois Republican Don Manzullo mere showboating?

No, according to one Inslee D.C. staffer interviewed by this correspondent. The July deadline will indeed arrive before the counterlegislation sees the light of day. What the Inslee camp expects to happen is that one group or another will file a suit to stop the CRPB judicial action. The equitiy issues will either be resolved in court or enough time will pass that the legislation, now the beneficiary of an upsurge of popular support.

So watch for the lawsuit, and get ready for a long campaign on behalf of internet radio.

Tags: Radio | Censorship | Technology