A Letter To My Congressman.

As a fan of Internet radio, I was alarmed to learn that the Copyright Royalty Board has decided to raise music royalty rates by 300 to 1200 percent. For most webcasters the new royalties exceed their revenue and they simply will go bankrupt and stop webcasting.

The silencing of Internet radio would be a blow to listeners like me who enjoy the wide variety of choices only available via Internet radio. This will kill the great diversity of music that I hear over the Internet and all the independent artists who have a difficult time breaking through on other forms of radio.

I, personally, have spent more money on music (via online music stores as well as cd) because I was able to listen to music on the Internet. I would not consider purchasing any album if I hadn't heard songs from it beforehand.

More times than not, while listening to Internet radio, I purchase the songs I like. If Internet radio was silenced, I wouldn't purchase as much music. Im sure I wouldn't be the only one.

Please keep these points in mind as you consider House Resolution 2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act. Your support of this resolution will send a message that you refuse to place an economic chokehold on this emerging medium.