Lincoln, Barrasso Urge Leadership to Block PRA

RADIO ONLINE | , , | :am CT

Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and John Barrasso (R-WY) sent a letter late last week to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) expressing opposition to the Performance Rights Act. The act, which was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday, supports RIAA's bid to impose royalties for local airplay.

"By many estimations, passage of this legislation would result in potentially billions of dollars flowing from local broadcasters to the recording industry and would have a devastating impact on the local radio broadcasting system as we know it," Sens. Lincoln and Barrasso wrote.

The RIAA-backed legislation "clearly evokes strong opposition that transcends party affiliation. As leaders of our two parties, we ask that you oppose any effort to move this bill, either as a stand alone measure or as part of a broader legislative package," they continued.

Senators Lincoln and Barrasso are the original co-sponsors of a countering resolution known as the Local Radio Freedom Act, which has gained bipartisan support from 26 U.S. Senators and 251 House lawmakers. The Local Radio Freedom Act opposes any new fee, charge or tax on local radio stations for free over-the-air music broadcasts.