did others get this? we've talked about this before...please consider.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 09:22:44 -0500 From: Lester K. Spence <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: FW: => May 1 Beta Blackout <= -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 7:53 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: => May 1 Beta Blackout <= To the listeners of the Beta Lounge: The Beta Lounge is participating in a one-day Internet radio blackout on May 1st, 2002, in protest of the US Copyright Office's CARP ruling. The Beta Lounge, like any other entity that uses music on its website, must pay royalties to the people who publish music. While we're happy to pay reasonable fees that support the artists whose music we're playing, this CARP ruling sets very excessive fees and unreasonable technical requirements. These fees and requirements will put most, if not all, independent Internet stations out of business - including the Beta Lounge. These CARP recommendations were strong-armed through the Copyright Office by heavy lobbying from the RIAA and the major record labels, and do not represent the interests of smaller independent record labels (like those whose music you hear on our site), nor independent Internet broadcasters like the Beta Lounge. This ruling isn't law yet, and we're asking that you join the fight with us against it by contacting your representatives in Congress. The more that our representatives hear about this from their electorate, the more likely it is that they will do something about it. What we're asking for is a temporary moratorium on these fees so that more reasonable fee schedules can be developed. If you want to get more information on this situation, the proposed laws, and what you can do, go to this web site: http://www.saveinternetradio.org/ The Copyright office won't make a decision on the CARP rulings until May 21st, 2002, so phone your representatives in Congress and tell them that you oppose the CARP rulings. Here's a simple script you can use when you call: "I'm calling because of the proposed Copyright Office ruling on royalty rates for Internet radio stations. I would like to ask that you send a letter to the Librarian of Congress similar to Congressman Rick Boucher's [pronounced B-"ouch"-er] letter in protest of the CARP ruling." Or, you can simply email or fax them. Sample letters for you to use can be found on the saveinternetradio.org web site. To find your House and Senate representatives, and their contact information, you can go to: http://www.congress.org/ ...and input your zip code. It will give you a list of your elected officials, and all of their contact information. Ideally, you should contact both State Senators, and your local district House representative. If you want to make it really easy, there's a link to write ALL of your representatives at the top of the page you get after entering your zip. If you are not a U.S. citizen you can help by contacting journalists or elected representatives of the area that you live. If there was ever a time for an international audience to mobilize, now is it. We need all of our listeners to add their input - don't assume someone else will take responsibility to voice an opinion. -The Beta Lounge Crew --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
