Watched the archived Webcast of today's House Judiciary Committee markup session. It was almost all about the Performance Rights Act (making am/fm stations pay copyright royalties for over-the-air music). They now have the text of HR 2344 (the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009) online. It's tiny. The bill (HR2344) simply extends the deadline for agreements between SX & webcasters not covered under existing agreements to 30 days after the bill becomes law...
In other words, it's a last chance for Live365, Pandora, & other webcasters to get SX to modify the Copyright Royalty Rates ordered to by the Copyright Royalty Board through 2010, & to make agreements to extend out as far as 2015...
In other words, the Judiciary Committee of the U.S.House doesn't care about small, medium, or large Internet Webcasters. It's a bone thrown to us to decieve us into thinking these "Representatives" care. They don't (except for Zoe Lofgren, who is fighting a brave fight for us). This committee appears to be made up of a lot of 'Flashing 12:00's' who profess "concerns" about webcasters and small broadcasters but believe that "instructing the CRB" to treat everyone fairly is all that's necessary.
Small Terrestrial Broadcasters, Welcome to Our Nightmare. Run while you can, or stand & fight alongside us as we are beaten, but never defeated.
"...and Into the Valley of Death rode the Six Hundred..."
Love and Peace, Clarence
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