Eleven Representatives Join as Co-sponsors of LRFA

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, January 21, 2022

U.S. Congress

Eleven members of the House of Representatives have added their support to a resolution opposing "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local broadcast radio stations. The Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA), which signals members of Congress's opposition to any potential legislation that imposes new performance royalties on broadcast radio stations for music airplay, now has 208 co-sponsors in the House and 24 in the Senate.

Adding their support recently for the Local Radio Freedom Act in the House are Reps. Cliff Bentz (R-OR-2), Mike Carey (R-OH-15), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-2), Pat Fallon (R-TX-4), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-2), Bill Huizenga (R-MI-2), Tracey Mann (R-KS-1), Kathy Manning (D-NC-6), Mary Miller (R-IL-15), Austin Scott (R-GA-8), Chris Smith (R-NJ-4).

Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) and Steve Womack (R-AR-3) are the principal co-sponsors of the Local Radio Freedom Act in the House of Representatives. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and John Barrasso (R-WY) are the lead cosponsors of a companion resolution in the Senate.

This week, the National Religous Broadcasters voiced its support for the Local Radio Freedom Act and preserving a free market for music licensing. NRB said many of its members already pay music licensing fees and provide free promotion to the record industry, and that a performance royalty would financially cripple local broadcasters.