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04/30/2014

Majority of House of Representatives Now Supports Local Radio Freedom Act

National Association of Broadcasters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 CONTACT April 29, 2014

Dennis Wharton 202-429-5350

-- Four Members of Congress join coalition co-sponsoring anti-performance tax resolution --

WASHINGTON, DC -- A majority of the U.S. House of Representatives is now co-sponsoring a resolution that opposes "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local broadcast radio stations. A bipartisan group of four Representatives have added their names in support of the Local Radio Freedom Act, bringing the number of co-sponsors to 219 Members of the House and 14 Senators.

The members of the bipartisan group adding their support to the Local Radio Freedom Act are Democratic Reps. William Keating (MA-9) and Stephen Lynch (MA-8) and Republican Reps. John Culberson (TX-7) and David McKinley (WV-1).

"We applaud all the co-sponsors of the Local Radio Freedom Act for voicing their strong support for America's hometown radio stations," said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. "A job-killing performance tax would be devastating to free and local radio, which has an overall economic impact of over $513 billion in Gross Domestic Product and generates more than one million jobs annually. This resolution reaffirms Congress's appreciation for the public service and economic benefits radio broadcasters provide to every community, while recognizing the mutually beneficial relationship between radio and performing artists."

Reps. Michael Conaway (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX) introduced the Local Radio Freedom Act (H. Con. Res. 16) in the House of Representatives on February 15 along with 71 additional co-sponsors. An identical resolution (S. Con. Res. 6) was introduced in the Senate on March 6 by Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).

"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 the Local Radio Freedom Act.

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