Internet Radio Equality Act would overturn decision on webcasting fees

The Copyright Royalty Board recently raised rates on Internet webcasters, who will soon face greatly-increased fees for streaming music on their stations. The issue affected not just Internet broadcasters but noncommercial groups like NPR, and the broadcasters filed an appeal of the decision earlier this month, but were denied.

Inslee's bill, the Internet Radio Equality Act, would toss out the Board's decision and return the webcasting industry to a percentage-of-revenue model. In this case, the percentage would be set at the same rate paid by satellite radio, which is 7.5 percent.

The bill is a huge victory for groups like the SaveNetRadio coalition. Jake Ward of SaveNetRadio called the new bill a "critical step to preserve this vibrant and growing medium, and to develop a truly level playing field where webcasters can compete with satellite radio."