=> May 1 Beta Blackout <=

From: ian raikow (raikow@betalounge.com)
Date: Wed May 01 2002 - 22:34:39 CEST

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    just in case anyone was looking for background about the internet
    radio blackout that's happening today.

    story on cnn here:
    http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/internet/05/01/radio.reut/index.html

    -ian.

    ----------

    To the listeners of the Beta Lounge:

    The Beta Lounge is participating in a one-day Internet radio blackout
    on May 1st, 2002, in protest of the US Copyright Office's CARP ruling.

    The Beta Lounge, like any other entity that uses music on its
    website, must pay royalties to the people who publish music. While
    we're happy to pay reasonable fees that support the artists whose
    music we're playing, this CARP ruling sets very excessive fees and
    unreasonable technical requirements. These fees and requirements will
    put most, if not all, independent Internet stations out of business -
    including the Beta Lounge.

    These CARP recommendations were strong-armed through the Copyright
    Office by heavy lobbying from the RIAA and the major record labels,
    and do not represent the interests of smaller independent record
    labels (like those whose music you hear on our site), nor independent
    Internet broadcasters like the Beta Lounge.

    This ruling isn't law yet, and we're asking that you join the fight
    with us against it by contacting your representatives in Congress.
    The more that our representatives hear about this from their
    electorate, the more likely it is that they will do something about
    it. What we're asking for is a temporary moratorium on these fees so
    that more reasonable fee schedules can be developed. If you want to
    get more information on this situation, the proposed laws, and what
    you can do, go to this web site:

    http://www.saveinternetradio.org/

    The Copyright office won't make a decision on the CARP rulings until
    May 21st, 2002, so phone your representatives in Congress and tell
    them that you oppose the CARP rulings. Here's a simple script you can
    use when you call:

    "I'm calling because of the proposed Copyright Office ruling on
    royalty rates for Internet radio stations. I would like to ask that
    you send a letter to the Librarian of Congress similar to Congressman
    Rick Boucher's [pronounced B-"ouch"-er] letter in protest of the CARP
    ruling."

    Or, you can simply email or fax them. Sample letters for you to use
    can be found on the saveinternetradio.org web site.

    To find your House and Senate representatives, and their contact
    information, you can go to:

    http://www.congress.org/

    ...and input your zip code. It will give you a list of your elected
    officials, and all of their contact information. Ideally, you should
    contact both State Senators, and your local district House
    representative. If you want to make it really easy, there's a link to
    write ALL of your representatives at the top of the page you get
    after entering your zip.

    If you are not a U.S. citizen you can help by contacting journalists
    or elected representatives of the area that you live. If there was
    ever a time for an international audience to mobilize, now is it.

    We need all of our listeners to add their input - don't assume
    someone else will take responsibility to voice an opinion.

    -The Beta Lounge Crew



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