Broadcasting on the Internet

The Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, recently decided the fee structure for commercial and non-commercial radio stations (college stations) who broadcast on the Internet. In order to comply with the rules specified under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), these new fees are retroactive to 1998 when the law was passed. Although Mr. Billington almost halved the fees in most cases that were recommended by the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP), the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) believes the fees are too low and most radio broadcasters within the coalition of college broadcasters, especially those of the non-profit variety, believe they are too high. Commercial broadcasters must pay seven-hundredths of a cent per song, per listener. Non-commercial stations must pay two-hundredths of a cent per song, per listener. Non-commercial broadcasters with a listening audience of 20 listeners for example, will have to pay close to $2,000 a year. This is more than some non-commercial stations have in their budgets for the entire year. All stations must pay a minimum of $500 a year in royalties. The only way to get these rules changed is by an act of Congress.