A resolution supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act is gaining steam in the House. Introduced in anticipation of the pending Performance Rights Act (learn more), which proposes to impose royalty fees on terrestrial radio, the resolution states that Congress "should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" for the broadcast of recordings by local radio stations. The resolution has gained the support of 219 members of the House, a majority of that body. A copy of the resolution is available here. A similar resolution also is pending before the Senate that has gained the support of 13 Senators. A copy of that resolution is available here.
The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property held a hearing on the Performance Rights Act on June 11, with both Subcommittee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) and full Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) pledging further action on the bill in the present Congress. It is unlikely, given the support for the resolution opposing the bill, that leadership will bring the bill to the House floor this year. Most Congressional observers, however, expect that this issue will be revisited in the next Congress
