Local Radio Offers Important Service For Rural America
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Having grown up in a rural environment and in an age before internet and all the newest technology that keeps us connect, I know how valuable of service was provided by our local radio station. On my way to getting to here I even had the opportunity to work for that radio station, reporting on farm news, markets, weather and a whole hosts of other things that listeners tuned in to hear.
Today, local radio still provides information services and entertainment. In some parts of rural Nevada and America, where the broadband and other communications networks that urban residents take for granted, local radio is still their connection to what’s happening in the community as well as the bigger world.
For emergency situations, local radio stations come through, delivering critical information. When storms hit or other disasters befall us, a battery-powered radio, stored in the emergency kit, can keep you posted on developments you need to be aware of.
Yes, local radio also offers entertainment boosting our quality of life.
Local radio’s ability to continue to provide these services and benefits could be threatened by an agenda of the recording industry. Beyond the royalties that radio stations already pay for copyright ownership, the recording industry would like to have Congress enact a tax on music that local radio stations play over the air. They call this tax a “performance royalty”, but it’s really nothing more than a government imposed burden to line the pockets of the folks who are already getting paid for the ownership they have of their intellectual/creative products.
The recording industry has tried several times to talk Congress into doing their bidding for the performance tax on local radio stations. In all likelihood they will try again.
Lawmakers have rejected the past efforts to bring about this corporate collection system, using government as the collection agency. The legislators have recognized that there is a mutually beneficial relationship, just the way things are now…radio stations benefitting from the entertainment that is driving advertising revenues – and the recording industry benefitting from “free” promotion of having the recordings on the air.
Congress does not have a performance tax bill before it now, but we’re seeing support taking shape in a proactive fashion, in the form of the Local Radio Freedom Act. This resolution seeks to oppose any attempt by Congress to enact a performance tax on local radio stations.
We all benefit from the system that we have in place now and keeping it that way promises to allow for local radio stations to continue doing what they do for us.
Having grown up in a rural environment and in an age before internet and all the newest technology that keeps us connect, I know how valuable of service was provided by our local radio station. On my way to getting to here I even had the opportunity to work for that radio station, reporting on farm news, markets, weather and a whole hosts of other things that listeners tuned in to hear.
Today, local radio still provides information services and entertainment. In some parts of rural Nevada and America, where the broadband and other communications networks that urban residents take for granted, local radio is still their connection to what’s happening in the community as well as the bigger world.
For emergency situations, local radio stations come through, delivering critical information. When storms hit or other disasters befall us, a battery-powered radio, stored in the emergency kit, can keep you posted on developments you need to be aware of.
Yes, local radio also offers entertainment boosting our quality of life.
Local radio’s ability to continue to provide these services and benefits could be threatened by an agenda of the recording industry. Beyond the royalties that radio stations already pay for copyright ownership, the recording industry would like to have Congress enact a tax on music that local radio stations play over the air. They call this tax a “performance royalty”, but it’s really nothing more than a government imposed burden to line the pockets of the folks who are already getting paid for the ownership they have of their intellectual/creative products.
The recording industry has tried several times to talk Congress into doing their bidding for the performance tax on local radio stations. In all likelihood they will try again.
Lawmakers have rejected the past efforts to bring about this corporate collection system, using government as the collection agency. The legislators have recognized that there is a mutually beneficial relationship, just the way things are now…radio stations benefitting from the entertainment that is driving advertising revenues – and the recording industry benefitting from “free” promotion of having the recordings on the air.
Congress does not have a performance tax bill before it now, but we’re seeing support taking shape in a proactive fashion, in the form of the Local Radio Freedom Act. This resolution seeks to oppose any attempt by Congress to enact a performance tax on local radio stations.
We all benefit from the system that we have in place now and keeping it that way promises to allow for local radio stations to continue doing what they do for us.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 6/28/2011 11:10 AM 
Categories: U.S. Congress
Tags: Nevada Rural America Radio Congress
Categories: U.S. Congress
Tags: Nevada Rural America Radio Congress
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