[Iowa-dx] Public Broadcast Webcasting Is In Danger

[Libris Fidelis]

Do you value Amy Goodman's television and radio news program
Democracy Now! ? ? ? ?  Do you watch and listen to Public
Broadcast Service, National Public Radio, Public Radio International,
British Broadcast Service, Canadian Broadcast Service, or any
others?

THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE SIMPLE INCLUSION OF TOPICAL
MUSIC IN ANY PROGRAM'S THEME, OR THE PROVISION OF
MUSIC PERTINENT TO A BROADCAST SUBJECT (such as anti-war
protest songs that are "protected" by a copyright held by a major
corporate owner who would rather that they not be broadcast)
WOULD INCUR HUGE LEVIES EACH TIME THEY ARE PLAYED ON
VARIOUS INDIVIDUAL RADIO STATIONS.  WE NEED YOUR
COMMUNICATION TO BE SENT TO YOUR NATIONAL ELECTED
SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES.   For more information, you
can contact Take Action at:
WhyPublicMatters@tellthempublicmatters.org

<->From :  Tell Them Public Matters
<-><WhyPublicMatters@tellthempublicmatters.org>
<->Reply-To:  "Tell Them Public Matters" <govrelations@npr.org>
<->Sent:  Thursday, May 17, 2007 12:20 PM
<->To:  "Libris Fidelis" <librisfidelis@hotmail.com>
<->Subject: Speak Up - Public Radio Webcasting Is In Danger -
<-> Please Help!
<->
<->Speak Up - Public Radio Webcasting Is In Danger - Please
<-> Help!
<->
<->Save Public Radio Webcasting! Take Action!
<->
<->Ask your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the INTERNET
<->RADIO EQUALITY ACT
<->
<->Public radio music webcasting is in immediate danger. The
<->recent ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) exposes
<->public radio stations that stream their musical content to
<->huge increases in royalty payments and threatens to
<->drastically curtail the programming diversity found on public
<->broadcasting websites. This decision treats public broadcasters
<->the same as commercial entities and saddles public radio
<->stations with inappropriate and unachievable requirements.
<->
<->Additionally, because the CRB’s decision requires public radio
<->stations to pay royalties on a per song/per listener basis, it
<->directly contradicts public radio’s public service obligations and
<->mission. In a very direct way, the CRB decision penalizes public
<->radio stations for their service to the public. The more of the
<->United States of American population we reach, the larger the
<->royalty payments.
<->
<->Artists, listeners, and public radio webcasters have joined
<->together to help preserve our public service. We strongly
<->believe in compensating artists, but public radio music
<->webcasting as we know it cannot survive under the new
<->rules. As it stands now, royalty rates for webcasters will
<->increase drastically come July 15th and will be retroactive to
<->January 1, 2006 ! ! !
<->
<->Action Alert
<->
<->Save Public Radio Webcasting!
<->Ask your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the Internet
<->Radio Equality Act
<->
<->We need your help! Please take a moment to contact your
<->Members of Congress to let your representatives know how
<->much Internet radio means to you. Ask them to co-sponsor
<->the Internet Radio Equality Act to save public radio
<->webcasting. Act now!
<->
<->Please customize this letter with the name(s) of your
<->favorite public radio station(s) and any other personal
<->thoughts you would like to add. Tell Congress that public
<->radio webcasting is important to you!
<->
<->If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click
<->here.

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