The Internet Radio Equality Act (H.R. 2060), introduced by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Don Manzullo (R-Ill.), would fix a March 2007 ruling made by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) concerning an increase in the rates paid by Internet radio webcasters.

This bill would correct a serious mistake made by the Copyright Royalty Board. On March 2, 2007, the CRB decided to substantially increase the rates paid by those streaming music over the Internet, or "webcasters," to copyright holders and recording artists. The increase would cost webcasters millions, threaten the growth of noncommercial webcasters, and put many small webcasting sites out of business. While compensating artists is crucial, the size of the increase would threaten the diversity and promise of Internet radio.

H.R. 2060 would set a fee structure for 2006-2010 that puts Internet radio royalties on an equal footing with satellite radio, protects the mission of public broadcasting by creating a separate rate for noncommercial webcasters, and ensures a reasonable and fair payment of royalties to artists by all webcasters.

The bill has 150 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. A companion bill, S. 1353, has been introduced in the Senate.

Free Press supports this bill.