Comment Of Sen. Patrick Leahy,
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,
On Webcasting
Sept. 30, 2002

"Webcasting has marked one of the more exciting and quickly growing of the new industries that have sprung up on the Web.  Webcasters serve listeners across the country and around the world by providing music in specialized niches not available over the air, featuring new or unknown artists who do not enjoy the few spots in the Top 40, and bringing music of all types to listeners who, for whatever reason, are not being catered to by traditional broadcasters.

“We want the webcasting industry to grow, not shrink or move overseas.  I appreciate the efforts of legislators on both sides of the Hill to hold hearings and consider legislative proposals intended to help webcasters grow their business but with fair compensation to the artists and businesses that create and produce the digital works that make the online world so fascinating and worth visiting.  At the webcasting hearing I chaired in May I urged the stakeholders unhappy with the royalty rates set by the Librarian of Congress to reach a negotiated outcome more satisfactory to all participants.  The Congress should stand ready to help, and my committee will.”

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