Politics

Leading the Fight Against Taxing Local Radio

Last night, U.S. Representative Howard Berman (CA-28) introduced a bill (H.R. 4789) supporting a ?performance fee? on local radio broadcasters. This fee will force local broadcasters to pay record labels and performers for the music that is now aired on the public airwaves free-of-charge. Time and time again the recording industry has attempted to place this costly and destructive fee on our local radio stations. Fortunately, Congress has repeatedly refused to implement this fee that would disrupt the mutually beneficial relationship between local radio stations and recording industries.

Local radio provides an invaluable service in the community by relaying important weather information, national emergency information and important news that will affect the community. This ?performance fee? will place an unnecessary and devastating burden on the small local broadcasters and will inevitably hurt our communities.

Last month, I along with Rep. Gene Green (TX-29) declared support of free local radio by sponsoring the Local Radio Freedom Act. This bipartisan bill recognizes the significance of local radio in the community and opposes any new performance fees, taxes, royalties or other charges relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings. The Local Radio Freedom Act pledges to protect these small, local broadcasters and preserve the successful and efficient relationship between the recording industry and local radio. Mike

Full post as published by Mike Conaway's Blog on December 19, 2007 (boomark / email).