WASHINGTON, DC -- Senators Blanche Lincoln (AR) and John Barrasso (WY) today introduced The Local Radio Freedom Act, S. Con. Res. 14. The resolution, which opposes the introduction of "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local radio stations, mirrors a House Resolution supported by 158 lawmakers and comes as roughly 500 local broadcasters gather in Washington for the annual NAB State Leadership Conference.
"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 S. Con. Res. 14.
The Local Radio Freedom Act counters legislation supported by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which would levy a new fee on local radio stations for music aired free to listeners. At least 50 percent of the proceeds from the new fee would go directly into the coffers of the record labels, three of four of which are based outside the U.S.
"Broadcasters appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Sens. Lincoln and Barrasso on an issue of critical importance to the survival of free, local radio," said NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton. "A performance tax would threaten thousands of American jobs, reduce music diversity, and hamstring a new artist's ability to reach radio's 234 million weekly listeners. RIAA's attempted money-grab would decimate a radio business reeling from the worst advertising recession in decades."
This week, approximately 500 local radio and television broadcasters will gather in Washington, D.C. for the NAB State Leadership Conference. The annual event brings local broadcasters to the Washington to meet with elected officials and discuss issues impacting local radio and TV stations. Protecting local radio stations from the RIAA-sought fee has been identified as the number one priority of the NAB Radio Board of Directors.
Earlier this year, an identical House resolution was introduced by Reps. Gene Green (TX-29) and Mike Conaway (TX-11). The resolution already enjoys the support of 158 lawmakers including:
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Robert
Aderholt (AL-4) Todd Akin (MO-2) Rodney Alexander (LA-5) Jason Altmire (PA-4) Mike Arcuri (NY-24) Steve Austria (OH-7) Michele Bachmann (MN-6) Spencer Bachus (AL-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) Charles Boustany (LA-7) Allen Boyd (FL-2) Kevin Brady (TX-8) Bruce Braley (IA-1) Bobby Bright (AL-2) Paul Broun (GA-10) Corrine Brown (FL-3) Henry Brown (SC-1) Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5) Michael Burgess (TX-26) Dan Burton (IN-5) Steve Buyer (IN-4) Shelly Moore Capito (WV-2) Mike Capuano (MA-8) Andre Carson (IN-7) John Carter (TX-31) William Lacy Clay (MO-1) Tom Cole (OK-4) Mike Conaway (TX-11) Jerry Costello (IL-12) Joseph Courtney (CT-2) Ander Crenshaw (FL-4) Henry Cuellar (TX-28) John Culberson (TX-7) Artur Davis (AL-7) Danny Davis (IL-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) Joe Donnelly (IN-2) Chet Edwards (TX-17) |
Vernon
Ehlers (MI-3) Brad Ellsworth (IN-8) Jo Ann Emerson (MO-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) Al Green (TX-9) Gene Green (TX-29) Parker Griffith (AL-5) Brett Guthrie (KY-2) Ralph Hall (TX-4) Deborah Halvorson (IL-11) Phil Hare (IL-17) Doc Hastings (WA-4) Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL) Baron Hill (IN-9) Pete Hoekstra (MI-2) Tim Holden (PA-17) Duncan Hunter (CA-52) Lynn Jenkins (KS-2) Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) Timothy Johnson (IL-15) Walter Jones (NC-3) Jim Jordan (OH-4) Steve Kagen (WI-8) Jack Kingston (GA-1) John Kline (MN-2) Rick Larsen (WA-2) Steve LaTourette (OH-14) Robert Latta (OH-5) Chris Lee (NY-26) Frank Lucas (OK-3) 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) Jeff Miller (FL-1) Walt Minnick (ID-1) |
Harry
Mitchell (AZ-5) Jerry Moran (KS-1) Sue Myrick (NC-9) Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) Devin Nunes (CA-21) James Oberstar (MN-8) Solomon Ortiz (TX-27) Frank Pallone (NJ-6) Bill Pascrell (NJ-8) Tom Petri (WI-6) Pedro Pierluisi (PR-At Large) Joe Pitts (PA-16) Todd Platts (PA-19) Ted Poe (TX-2) Bill Posey (FL-15) Tom Price (GA-6) Nick Rahall (WV-3) Charles Rangel (NY-15) Dennis Rehberg (MT-AL) Silvestre Reyes (TX-16) Harold Rogers (KY-5) Mike Rogers (AL-3) Peter Roskam (IL-6) Mike Ross (AR-4) Paul Ryan (WI-1) Tim Ryan (OH-17) Aaron Schock (IL-18) David Scott (GA-13) Pete Sessions (TX-32) John Shimkus (IL-19) Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1) Heath Shuler (NC-11) Bill Shuster (PA-9) Mike Simpson (ID-2) Adrian Smith (NE-3) 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) Fred Upton (MI-6) Greg Walden (OR-2) Lynn Westmoreland (GA-3) Ed Whitfield (KY-1) Charlie Wilson (OH-6) Joe Wilson (SC-2) Rob Wittman (VA-1) Don Young (AK-At Large) |
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NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association
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