Save Net Radio!

[manchild]

The future of Internet radio is in immediate danger. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on May 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006!). If the increased rates remain unchanged, the majority of webcasters will go bankrupt and silent on this date. Internet radio needs your help! The Internet Radio Equality Act has just been introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL ) to save the Internet radio industry. Please call your congressperson to ask them to co-sponsor this bill by clicking below.

I'm not from US but I see this as an global attack on freedom of speech and independent medias because I know that if freedom of speech is under attack in USA it will affect freedom of speech worldwide. Even more, it will send affirmative message to oppressors in countries where freedom of speech is already very questionable.

http://www.savenetradio.org/

[checkered]

Internet "radio" is

a bit of a misnomer (and perhaps part of what I deem was a misunderstanding by the US congress in making determinations about the issue of royalties) for a streaming audio service, but that notwithstanding this could be a real tragedy in the making. Manchild is right, and you don't have to be a US citizen to sign those petitions. This plays to the hands of autocrats and people tempted to infringe on copyrights. Even if success at this point seems unlikely, investing a minute of your time is worth it.