With a bill on the table to impose a performance royalty on AM and FM radio stations, picking up support for the Local Radio Freedom Act, a bill that advocates the opposite, gains importance. And it is continuing to gain backers.
Four more members of the US House of Representative have signed on as co-sponsors.
The newest members to support local radio are Rick Allen (GA-12), Tom Rice (SC-7), Scott Rigell (VA-2) and John Shimkus (IL-15).
The thrust of LRFA is to oppose “any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge” on local broadcast radio stations.
The total number of reps signed on as co-sponsors now stands at 158. There are an additional 13 in the Senate, where co-sponsorship is a less commonly used practice.
RBR+TVBR observation: The total number of Representatives is well over halfway to the point where it would be achieve critical mass. In a proceeding in which all 435 members cast a vote, 218 guarantees a win. 60 more co-sponsors and LRFA is there.
