WASHINGTON, DC -- More than 100 lawmakers have signed-on to a bipartisan House resolution opposing the introduction of "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local radio stations. The Local Radio Freedom Act, unveiled today at a Capitol Hill event hosted by the Free Radio Alliance, was introduced by Reps. Gene Green (D-TX) and Mike Conaway (R-TX). The resolution, as introduced in last year's Congress, garnered 53 original co-sponsors. Initial support for this year's resolution has more than doubled, reaching 110.
An identical resolution is expected to be introduced in the Senate soon.
"Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings," reads the H. Con. Res 49.
The House resolution counters legislation supported by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which would require local radio stations to pay a new fee for music aired free to listeners.
Commenting on the resolution's introduction, NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton said, "NAB applauds Reps. Green, Conaway and their House colleagues for their commitment to ensuring that America's 235 million weekly radio listeners have continued access to free, local radio. The undeniable fact is that RIAA's plea for a record label bailout will put thousands of radio jobs at risk and threaten the economic viability of a recording artist's greatest promotional asset."
Today's House resolution is supported by 110 House members, including:
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Todd
Akin (MO-2) Rodney Alexander (LA-5) Jason Altmire (PA-4) Mike Arcuri (NY-24) Steve Austria (OH-7) Michele Bachmann (MN-6) Gresham Barrett (SC-3) John Barrow (GA-12) Melissa Bean (IL-8) Marion Berry (AR-1) Judy Biggert (IL-13) Sanford Bishop (GA-2) Roy Blunt (MO-7) Jo Bonner (AL-1) John Boozman (AR-3) Leonard Boswell (IA-3) Allen Boyd (FL-2) Kevin Brady (TX-8) Bobby Bright (AL-2) Henry Brown (SC-1) Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5) Michael Burgess (TX-26) Dan Burton (IN-5) Shelly Moore Capito (WV-2) Mike Capuano (MA-8) John Carter (TX-31) William Lacy Clay (MO-1) Tom Cole (OK-4) Mike Conaway (TX-11) Henry Cuellar (TX-28) John Culberson (TX-7) Geoff Davis (KY-4) Lincoln Davis (TN-4) Charles Dent (PA-15) Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21) Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) Norm Dicks (WA-6) |
Chet
Edwards (TX-17) Brad Ellsworth (IN-8) John Fleming (LA-4) Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) Virginia Foxx (NC-5) Jim Gerlach (PA-6) Phil Gingrey (GA-11) Kay Granger (TX-12) Sam Graves (MO-6) Gene Green (TX-29) Parker Griffith (AL-5) Brett Guthrie (KY-2) Ralph Hall (TX-4) Phil Hare (IL-17) Doc Hastings (WA-4) Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL) Baron Hill (IN-9) Pete Hoekstra (MI-2) Duncan Hunter (CA-52) Lynn Jenkins (KS-2) Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) Walter Jones (NC-3) John Kline (MN-2) Rick Larsen (WA-2) Steve LaTourette (OH-14) Robert Latta (OH-5) Chris Lee (NY-26) Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2) Dave Loebsack (IA-2) Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) Cynthia Lummis (WY-AL) Don Manzullo (IL-16) Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4) Michael McCaul (TX-10) Tom McClintock (CA-4) Patrick McHenry (NC-10) |
John
McHugh (NY-23) Mike McIntyre (NC-7) Cathy McMorris Rogers (WA-5) Michael Michaud (ME-2) Candice Miller (MI-10) Gary Miller (CA-42) Jerry Moran (KS-1) Sue Myrick (NC-9) Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) Devin Nunes (CA-21) Frank Pallone (NJ-6) Bill Pascrell (NJ-8) Joe Pitts (PA-16) Ted Poe (TX-2) Tom Price (GA-6) Nick Rahall (WV-3) Silvestre Reyes (TX-16) Mike Rogers (AL-3) Mike Ross (AR-4) Aaron Schock (IL-18) Pete Sessions (TX-32) Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1) Heath Shuler (NC-11) Bill Shuster (PA-9) Mike Simpson (ID-2) Mark Souder (IN-3) John Spratt (SC-5) Bart Stupak (MI-1) John Sullivan (OK-1) Lee Terry (NE-2) Mike Thompson (CA-1) Glenn Thompson (PA-5) Todd Tiahrt (KS-4) Pat Tiberi (OH-12) Mike Turner (OH-3) Lynn Westmoreland (GA-3) Joe Wilson (SC-2) |
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association
for America's broadcasters. As the voice of more than 8,300 radio and
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and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables
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and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.