[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 156 (Sunday, September 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WEBCASTER SETTLEMENT ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MARSHA BLACKBURN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 27, 2008

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Webcaster 
Settlement Act of 2008, and want to thank the gentleman from Washington 
for his leadership in bringing this resolution to the floor.
  H.R. 7084 is a simple yet critical legislative solution that allows 
private sector actors to keep a negotiating process alive. Why? Because 
Internet radio royalties operate under a government license, and 
Congressional approval is necessary to allow a private sector agreement 
to effectuate outside the government process.
  This is a good thing. After all, if I have a choice between a 
government mandated solution and a private sector agreement, I will 
take the private sector agreement almost every time.
  The Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008 guarantees that our nation's 
performing artists, musicians, record labels and webcasters can 
continue copyright negotiations that are making slow but steady 
progress. And a resolution to the issue is critical, so Internet radio 
listeners can keep on listening and the people performing those songs 
can be properly compensated.
  The Copyright Royalty Board is small government body tasked with 
determining royalty rates for the use of music over Internet radio. It 
is obscure to some, but its decisions are critical to my constituents 
in Tennessee and Internet radio users across the country. 
Unfortunately, this body was tasked with the authority to adjudicate a 
rate structure at the direction of Congress back in 2004. This proved 
to be unwise, since the Board's decision announced in March of 2007 
sparked a lengthy lobbying battle and an acrimonious relationship 
between two important members of the music industry's family; the 
copyright holder and the copyright deliverer.
  We now understand that the parties are gradually coming together, and 
growing closer to finding common ground. Congress should do everything 
in its power to ensure the negotiations continue, and H.R. 7084 is the 
vehicle to guarantee the talks will continue.
  I urge my colleagues to support it, and yield the balance of my time.

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