NPR is asking for your help. They’re asking that you take a moment from your day to contact your Congressperson and “Ask them to co-sponsor the Internet Radio Equality Act which was introduced in the House (H.R. 2060) by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL) and in the Senate (S.1353) by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) to save public radio webcasting.”

As you all well know, the Copyright Royalty Board under the influence of SoundExchange (which represents members of the RIAA, but is separate from them, in much the same way that your remote is separate from your TV,) have raised royalty rates in an admitted attempt to drive small webcasters out of business. John Simson, the Executive Director of Sound Exchange, told the Washington Post:

“Is 10,000 stations the right number?” asks Simson of SoundExchange, which sought the higher royalties. “Does having so many Web stations disperse the market so much that it hurts the artist? What’s the right number of stations? Is it 5,000? Is it less? Are artists better off having hundreds of listeners on lots of little stations, or thousands of listeners on larger stations?”

NPR has found itself caught in the SoundExchange web, their motion for rehearing was denied on the basis that they didn’t present enough new evidence. The last resort is Congressional intervention. So, will you help NPR? Or will you not? —MEGHANN MARCO

Tell Them Public Matters [NPR]

PREVIOUSLY: RIAA 1, NPR 0: Copyright Royalty Board Denies Motion For Rehearing
NPR vs The RIAA
NPR Bites Back: Files Motion Against RIAA Internet Rate Increase

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