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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2009

Nine More Lawmakers Express Opposition to RIAA's Performance Fee

WASHINGTON, DC -- 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 135, and follows an interview by Radio Ink's Brida Connolly in which country music star Brad Paisley talks of the impact radio stations have made on his music career.

During the interview, Paisley expressed his appreciation for radio and discusses his relationships within the radio industry. "I have so many friends out there," wrote Paisley. "I think back over the years now, and it's amazing how much of my life has been impacted by radio people."

The Local Radio Freedom Act, unveiled last month at a Capitol Hill event hosted by the Free Radio Alliance, was introduced by Reps. Gene Green (D-TX) and Mike Conaway (R-TX).

"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.

The House resolution counters legislation backed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which would require local radio stations to pay a new fee for music aired free to listeners.

Reps. Paul Broun (R-GA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Joseph Courtney (D-CT), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Timothy Johnson (R-IL), Steve Kagen (D-WI), Frank Lucas (R-OK), and Adrian Smith (R-NE) all signed-on as co-sponsors of H. Con. Res. 49. House support now totals 135 lawmakers, including:

Robert Aderholt (AL-4)
Todd Akin (MO-2)
Rodney Alexander (LA-5)
Jason Altmire (PA-4)
Mike Arcuri (NY-24)
Steve Austria (OH-7)
Michele Bachmann (MN-6)
Spencer Bachus (AL-6)
Gresham Barrett (SC-3)
John Barrow (GA-12)
Melissa Bean (IL-8)
Marion Berry (AR-1)
Judy Biggert (IL-13)
Sanford Bishop (GA-2)
Roy Blunt (MO-7)
Jo Bonner (AL-1)
John Boozman (AR-3)
Leonard Boswell (IA-3)
Charles Boustany (LA-7)
Allen Boyd (FL-2)
Kevin Brady (TX-8)
Bruce Braley (IA-1)
Bobby Bright (AL-2)
Paul Broun (GA-10)
Henry Brown (SC-1)
Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5)
Michael Burgess (TX-26)
Dan Burton (IN-5)
Shelly Moore Capito (WV-2)
Mike Capuano (MA-8)
Andre Carson (IN-7)
John Carter (TX-31)
William Lacy Clay (MO-1)
Tom Cole (OK-4)
Mike Conaway (TX-11)
Jerry Costello (IL-12)

Joseph Courtney (CT-2)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
John Culberson (TX-7)
Geoff Davis (KY-4)
Lincoln Davis (TN-4)
Charles Dent (PA-15)
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21)
Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
Norm Dicks (WA-6)

Joe Donnelly (IN-2)
Chet Edwards (TX-17)
Vernon Ehlers (MI-3)
Brad Ellsworth (IN-8)
John Fleming (LA-4)
Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1)
Virginia Foxx (NC-5)
Jim Gerlach (PA-6)
Phil Gingrey (GA-11)
Kay Granger (TX-12)
Sam Graves (MO-6)
Al Green (TX-9)
Gene Green (TX-29)
Parker Griffith (AL-5)
Brett Guthrie (KY-2)
Ralph Hall (TX-4)
Phil Hare (IL-17)
Doc Hastings (WA-4)
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL)
Baron Hill (IN-9)
Pete Hoekstra (MI-2)
Duncan Hunter (CA-52)
Lynn Jenkins (KS-2)
Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30)
Timothy Johnson (IL-15)
Walter Jones (NC-3)
Jim Jordan (OH-4)
Steve Kagen (WI-8)
John Kline (MN-2)
Rick Larsen (WA-2)
Steve LaTourette (OH-14)
Robert Latta (OH-5)
Chris Lee (NY-26)
Frank Lucas (OK-3)
Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2)
Dave Loebsack (IA-2)
Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9)
Cynthia Lummis (WY-AL)
Don Manzullo (IL-16)
Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4)
Michael McCaul (TX-10)
Tom McClintock (CA-4)
Patrick McHenry (NC-10)
John McHugh (NY-23)
Mike McIntyre (NC-7)

Cathy McMorris Rogers (WA-5)
Michael Michaud (ME-2)
Candice Miller (MI-10)
Gary Miller (CA-42)
Jeff Miller (FL-1)
Harry Mitchell (AZ-5)
Jerry Moran (KS-1)
Sue Myrick (NC-9)
Randy Neugebauer (TX-19)
Devin Nunes (CA-21)
Frank Pallone (NJ-6)
Bill Pascrell (NJ-8)
Tom Petri (WI-6)
Joe Pitts (PA-16)
Todd Platts (PA-19)
Ted Poe (TX-2)
Tom Price (GA-6)
Nick Rahall (WV-3)
Dennis Rehberg (MT-AL)
Silvestre Reyes (TX-16)
Mike Rogers (AL-3)
Peter Roskam (IL-6)
Mike Ross (AR-4)
Aaron Schock (IL-18)
David Scott (GA-13)
Pete Sessions (TX-32)
John Shimkus (IL-19)
Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1)
Heath Shuler (NC-11)
Bill Shuster (PA-9)
Mike Simpson (ID-2)
Adrian Smith (NE-3)
Mark Souder (IN-3)
John Spratt (SC-5)
Bart Stupak (MI-1)
John Sullivan (OK-1)
Lee Terry (NE-2)
Mike Thompson (CA-1)
Glenn Thompson (PA-5)
Todd Tiahrt (KS-4)
Pat Tiberi (OH-12)
Mike Turner (OH-3)
Greg Walden (OR-2)
Lynn Westmoreland (GA-3)
Joe Wilson (SC-2)

About NAB The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. As the voice of more than 8,300 radio and television stations, NAB advances their interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.






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