UPDATE: The day internet radio DIES

Internet radio receives a stay of execution -- sort of...

"The day internet radio DIES" has been pushed back a month to July 15, 2007 following the publication of the Copyright Royalty Board's (CRB) "Final Determination of Rates and Terms" in the May 1, 2007 Federal Register. The CRB ruling states that webcaster's first payments are due 45 days after the end of the month in which the "final" determination is published (Sec. 380.4(c)), which results in the July 15, 2007 date.

House Resolution 2060, The Internet Radio Equality Act (H.R. 2060), which is currently under review by the Energy and Commerce Committee, has gained significant steam since it's April 26 introduction by Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Don Manzullo (R-IL) in the House of Representatives. Strong support for the proposed legislation has has emerged over the last few weeks, with 41 current co-sponsors to the bill (31 D, 10 R). The bill would nullify the March 2, 2007 CRB ruling for increased royalty rates, and apply a more mutually beneficial and economically feasible rate structure. In addition, the bill would unify the royalty standards between internet radio, satellite radio, cable radio, and jukeboxes. It appears that unification with terrestrial radio royalty requirements is not addressed specifically.

The sponsor of the bill, Jay Inslee (D-WA) is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, which oversees "Interstate and foreign telecommunications including, but not limited to all telecommunication and information transmission by broadcast, radio, wire, microwave, satellite, or other mode; and, Homeland security-related aspects of the foregoing, including cybersecurity."

Contact your representative and urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 2060, The Internet Radio Equality Act, and help save internet radio!