The Cincinnati Post
June 29, 2007
WASHINGTON - Cincinnati-area broadcasters asked a congressional committee Tuesday to stop a fee increase they said could knock them off the Internet and out of business.
Rep. Steve Chabot requested the hearing before the House Small Business Committee in response to the Copyright Royalty Board's decision to raise royalty rates for Webcasters. The rate increases range from 300 to 1,200 percent.
The increase will go into effect July 15. It will change the royalty system from being based on a percentage of revenues to one based on the number of songs played and the number of listeners. Webcasters say the complex formula would be difficult to calculate and raise their costs.
Cincinnati public radio stations WGUC and WVXU webcast Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Opera concerts.
Richard Eiswerth, president and general manager of Cincinnati Public Radio, was one of seven witnesses to testify at the hearing.
Read the full story by Hana Bieliauskas at The Cincinnati Post.
