WASHINGTON, DC – - NAB today renewed its unequivocal support for legislation sponsored by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), known as the Internet Radio Equality Action. The Inslee bill, introduced in April, has garnered 140 co-sponsors and would reverse a controversial Copyright Royalty Board decision that dramatically increased rates for local radio stations that stream music over the Internet.
NAB's strong backing of the Inslee bill follows an offer made on behalf of NAB member radio stations to SoundExchange, an organization created by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to establish and collect royalties for digital sound recordings. NAB has yet to receive a response from SoundExchange to the offer, which was made on June 6.
"We are disappointed by SoundExchange's continued reluctance to respond to the good-faith, reasonable offer put forth by NAB nearly two months ago," said NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton. "NAB will now turn our attention to aggressively advocating in support of Rep. Inslee's legislation to ensure that local radio broadcasters who stream content online are treated fairly."
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association that advocates on behalf of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations and also broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Courts. Information about NAB can be found at www.nab.org.
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