I don't know anything about this, and would be interested to learn how
accurate the message below is.

Thanks, Peter

Hi all,

Please read the folowing message from Steve Wolf, a blind webcaster who has
one of the top Internet radio stations in the world.  And please do call
your Congressperson right away as requested.  Briefly, the Copyright
Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP) has recommended charging exorbitant rates
for Webcasters like Steve, rates that are specifically designed to put
independent internet stations out of business so that the record labels can
control the market and push their new artists.  With these new rates, for
this year alone Steve would have to pay $292,723.60 (what small business of
under three employees could survive such payments?), and in addition the
CARP is demanding that the payments be retroactive to 1998.  To learn more,
you can visit www.saveinternetradio.org.  Finally, as there are many blind
webcasters, the CARP proposal would increase the 70% of the blind who are
currently unemployed.

Congressman Boucher's letter, mentioned below, proposes reasonable and
manageable payments, based on a percentage of annual revenue.  Eleven
Congresspeople have already signed onto the Boucher letter, but far more are
needed.  This is a real chance for us to make a difference, to protect the
minnows from capitalist sharks.  Please forward to others.  With sincere
thanks,
Pam
----- Original Message ----- > ----- Original Message -----> From:
"[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 7:49 PM
> Subject: A call to all US residents for immediate action.
>
> > > Hello listeners,
> > As you know the CARP battle continues on.
> > The deadline for the librarian of congress to make a decision is May 21,
> 2002.
> > I am writing to ask all US residents to take immediate action!
> > We need your urgent help in this fight for internet radio.
> > Please use the following link to find out who your local congress person
> is:
> > http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html
> > Then give them a call.  You want to ask to speak to the legislative
> assistant who handles copyright issues.  When you get them on the phone
ask
> them if they have heard about carp and what it could do to internet radio.
> > Explain to them you are a listener to internet radio and you want your
> represenitive to know your position on this issue.
> >
> > Rick Boucher a congressman from Virginia has drafted a letter that will
be
> sent to the copyright office and the librarian of congress.
> > In this letter it shows how the current proposed rates would kill
stations
> like WOLF FM.
> > It also makes a recommendation on how a rate system would be fair to
> stations like WOLF FM.
> > This is based on a flat percentage of station revenue not per listener
per
> song as currently proposed in the carp recommendation.
> > After you have explained the carp mess and your position on this to the
> legislative assistant tell them you would like your congress person to
sign
> onto the Boucher letter.
> > Its obviously being called the Boucher letter since it was Rick
> Boucher\\\'s office who drafted the original letter.  Next the legislative
> assistant may want to know how to get a copy of the Boucher letter.  Here
is
> how...Please have them call Boucher\\\'s office and ask for Johanna Mikes.
> > She is Boucher\\\'s legislative assistant and can provide your congress
> person\\\'s legislative assistant with a copy of this letter.
> > Her number is: 202-225-3861.
> >
> > I am asking all of you to call your congress person\\\'s office and get
> the ball rolling on this.
> > Time is running out and emailing them is too slow.
> > Please follow up with another phone call a day or two later to make sure
> they are going to sign on.  This letter has signatures from both parties.
> >
> > It\\\'s time to take immediate action and stop those who want to kill
> internet radio.
> > Thanks for your time and attention.
> >
> > Steve Wolf
> > WOLF FM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> > WOLF-FM
> >
>


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