[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55123-55124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22621]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Copyright Royalty Board

[Docket No. 2011-8 CRB SD 2009]


Distribution of the 2009 Satellite Royalty Funds

AGENCY: Copyright Royalty Board, Library of Congress.

ACTION: Notice requesting comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Copyright Royalty Judges are soliciting comments on a 
motion of Phase I claimants for partial distribution in connection with 
the 2009 satellite royalty funds. The Judges are also requesting 
comments as to the existence of Phase I and Phase II controversies with 
respect to the distribution of 2009 satellite royalty funds.

DATES: Comments are due on or before October 6, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent electronically to [email protected]. In the 
alternative, send an original, five copies, and an electronic copy on a 
CD either by mail or hand delivery. Please do not use multiple means of 
transmission. Comments may not be delivered by an overnight delivery 
service other than the U.S. Postal Service Express Mail. If by mail 
(including overnight delivery), comments must be addressed to: 
Copyright Royalty Board, P.O. Box 70977, Washington, DC 20024-0977. If 
hand delivered by a private party, comments must be brought to the 
Library of Congress, James Madison Memorial Building, LM-401, 101 
Independence Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20559-6000. If delivered by a 
commercial courier, comments must be delivered to the Congressional 
Courier Acceptance Site located at 2nd and D Street, NE., Washington, 
DC. The envelope must be addressed to: Copyright Royalty Board, Library 
of Congress, James Madison Memorial Building, LM-403, 101 Independence 
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20559-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Strasser, Senior Attorney, or 
Gina Giuffreda, Attorney Advisor, by telephone at (202) 707-7658 or e-
mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 5, 2011, representatives of the 
Phase I claimant categories (the ``Phase I Claimants'') \1\ filed with 
the Judges a motion requesting a partial distribution of 50% of the 
2009 satellite royalty funds pursuant to section 801(b)(3)(C) of the 
Copyright Act. 17 U.S.C. 801(b)(3)(C). That section requires that the 
Judges publish a notice in the Federal Register seeking responses to 
the motion for partial distribution to ascertain whether any claimant 
entitled to receive such fees has a reasonable objection to the 
requested distribution before ruling on the motion. Consequently, this 
Notice seeks comments from interested claimants on whether any 
reasonable objection exists that would preclude the distribution of 50% 
of the 2009 satellite royalty funds to the Phase I Claimants. The 
Judges must be advised of the existence and extent of all such 
objections by the end of the comment period. The Judges will not 
consider any objections with respect to the partial distribution motion 
that come to their attention after the close of that period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The ``Phase I Claimants'' are the Program Suppliers, Joint 
Sports Claimants, Broadcaster Claimants Group, Music Claimants 
(American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Broadcast 
Music, Inc., and SESAC, Inc.), and Devotional Claimants. In Phase I 
of a satellite royalty distribution proceeding, royalties are 
allocated among certain categories of broadcast programming that 
have been retransmitted by satellite systems. The categories have 
traditionally been movies and syndicated television series, sports 
programming, commercial broadcaster-owned programming, religious 
programming, and music. Public Television Claimants, Canadian 
Claimants, and National Public Radio, which traditionally have 
received Phase I shares of cable royalties, do not claim Phase I 
shares of the satellite royalty funds. In Phase II of a satellite 
royalty distribution proceeding, royalties are allocated among 
claimants within each of the Phase I categories.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Judges also seek comment on the existence and extent of any 
controversies to the 2009 satellite royalty funds at Phase I or Phase 
II with respect to those funds that would

[[Page 55124]]

remain if the motion for partial distribution is granted.
    The Motion of the Phase I Claimants for Partial Distribution is 
posted on the Copyright Royalty Board Web site at http://www.loc.gov/crb.

    Dated: August 30, 2011.
James Scott Sledge,
Chief U.S. Copyright Royalty Judge.
[FR Doc. 2011-22621 Filed 9-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-72-P