Bipartisan coalition of 114 members of Congress signals opposition to new performance royalties on local radio stations
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A bipartisan coalition of 114 members of the House of Representatives introduced the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA) today, a resolution opposing "any new performance fee, tax, royalty or other charge" on local radio stations.
"NAB is grateful to Reps. Womack and Castor for leading the effort to ensure local radio remains a viable source of trusted information in communities across the country. Americans depend on the local news, traffic updates, severe weather alerts, entertainment and sports they can freely access through local stations,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “Imposing a new performance fee on top of the hundreds of millions that local stations already pay in copyright and streaming fees, would severely hinder our ability to provide these free and essential services to our listeners.”
Reps. Steve Womack (R-AR-3) and Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) are the lead sponsors of this legislation. Similar resolutions were introduced in previous Congresses and garnered widespread, bipartisan support, including more than 250 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives and Senate in the last Congress.
“Local radio is integral to my life, as it is for many of those in Arkansas and across America,” said Rep. Womack. “It’s the heartbeat for communities, allowing free access to local sports, news, and entertainment. But most importantly, it’s a lifeline when disaster strikes. The Local Radio Freedom Act opposes charges that could threaten the viability of these local businesses that many people rely on.”
“The radio is a top, trusted choice for receiving local news, weather alerts, traffic updates, community opportunities, and so much more,” said Rep. Castor. “It is particularly important for my home state of Florida, where it provides critical information to residents and visitors during storms and after times of crisis via the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network. That is why I am a proud sponsor of the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution that reaffirms Congress's support for local radio stations and opposes new fees or taxes on local, free broadcast radio.”
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at nab.org.
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