Radio stations.

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL HOUSE

JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
0010

ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FIFTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
2008 BUDGET SESSION

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to
support the local radio freedom act.

WHEREAS,
Wyoming citizens enjoy broadcasting and sound recording industries that are the envy of the world, due to the symbiotic relationship that has existed among these industries for many decades; and

WHEREAS, for more than eighty (80) years the Unites States Congress has rejected repeated calls by the recording industry to impose a performance fee on local radio stations for simply playing music on the radio and upsetting the mutually beneficial relationship between local radio and the recording industry; and

WHEREAS, local radio stations provide free publicity and promotion to the recording industry and performers of music in the form of radio air play, interviews with performers, introduction of new performers, concert promotions and publicity that promotes the sale of new music, concert tickets, ring tones, music videos and assorted merchandise; and

WHEREAS, Congress found that the sale of many sound recordings and the careers of many performers benefited considerably from airplay and other promotional activities provided by both noncommercial and advertiser-supported, free over-the-air broadcasting; and

WHEREAS,
local radio broadcasters provide tens of thousands of hours of essential local news and weather information during times of national emergencies and natural disasters, such as September 11 and hurricanes such as Katrina and Rita, as well as public affairs programming, sports and hundreds of millions of dollars of time for public service announcements and local fund raising efforts for worthy charitable causes, all of which are jeopardized if local radio stations are forced to divert revenues to pay for a new performance fee; and

WHEREAS, there are many local Wyoming radio stations that will suffer severe economic hardship if any new performance fee is imposed, as will many other small businesses that play music including bars,
restaurants
, retail establishments, sports and other entertainment venues, shopping centers and transportation facilities; and

WHEREAS, the hardship that would result from a new performance fee would hurt Wyoming businesses and
ultimately
the Wyoming consumers who rely on local radio for news, weather and entertainment; and such a performance fee is not justified when the current system has produced the most prolific and innovative broadcasting, music and sound recording industries in the world.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

That
the State of
Wyoming
urge
s
Congress to 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.

Section 2.

That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1