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Inslee listens to a constituent.

Montage of Wing Point in Bainbridge Island and the Edmonds Ferry.

Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

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Internet radio

12 July 2007

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit yesterday denied a petition by online radio broadcasters to delay the July 15 due date for drastically increased royalty rates that are retroactive to January 2006.

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), an Internet radio champion, said of the denial: “On Sunday, billions in royalties will be due and many webcasters may be forced to suspend their broadcasts. I hope a compromise between online radio broadcasters and record labels can be reached before then, but if the hammer drops, urgency for congressional action only increases.

“If Internet radio goes silent, I will fight to make sure the silence is brief. One thing is sure – after July 15, national pressure for a resolution of this travesty only will increase. We are not going away.”

Inslee and U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.) authored the H.R. 2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act, which would set fair rates at the same level currently paid by satellite radio, cable radio and jukeboxes. The bill currently has 129 cosponsors and a Senate companion that was filed by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.).

Wednesday’s court decision does not preclude the same court from ruling in favor of webcasters, who appealed the March 2007 decision of the Copyright Royalty Board to hike royalty rates. Their appeal, filed in May, still is pending.

Click here to read the Internet Radio Equality Act.