On March 24, NAB announced that nine additional lawmakers have signed on to a bipartisan U.S. House of Representatives resolution opposing the introduction of "any new performance fee, tax, royalty or other charge" on local radio stations. The growing chorus of support for The Local Radio Freedom Act now stands at 158.

The Local Radio Freedom Act (H. Con. Res. 49), unveiled last month at a Capitol Hill event hosted by the Free Radio Alliance, was introduced by Reps. Gene Green (TX-29) and Mike Conaway (TX-11). The resolution counters legislation supported by the Recording Industry Association of America, which would levy a new fee on local radio stations for music aired free to listeners.

"Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings," reads H. Con. Res. 49.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (NY-15), and Reps. Steve Buyer (IN-04), Danny Davis (IL-07), Deborah Halverson (IL-11), Tim Holden (PA-17), James Oberstar (MN-08), Ed Whitfield (KY-01), Harold Rogers (KY-05), and Fred Upton (MI-06) have all added their support to the Local Radio Freedom Act, bringing the total bipartisan support to 158 House lawmakers.