Barrasso, Hassan Introduce the Bipartisan Local Radio Freedom Act

U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) led their colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan Local Radio Freedom Act in the Senate Thursday.  The act is a bipartisan resolution that underscores the critical importance of locally owned radio stations to families, small businesses, and our communities. It also declares that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charges for locally-owned radio stations.

Senator Barrasso said people across Wyoming depend on local radio stations for timely information, news, and programming that have a direct impact on their lives, adding that for 100 years, radio stations and the recording industry have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship: free airplay for free promotion, and if forced to pay a performance royalty, broadcasters will have to make cuts to important programming in order to make ends meet. Full text of the resolution can be found here.