D-Day Nears for Internet Radio

This has nothing to do with college football, so if you aren't one of the 72 million who listen to Internet radio, then move along. But if you are one of the 72 million, the clock is ticking on your cheap entertainment. In less than two weeks, the plug is going to be pulled on many stations that stream music, including the great Pandora. The site Save Net Radio has been tracking developments.

This all deals with a March ruling by the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board, which called for a significant increase in royalties paid for the online streaming of digital music. Satellite and terrestrial radio do not face such steep royalties.

There is an 11th-hour hope. Legislation — the Internet Radio Equality Act, HR 2060 — has been introduced by representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL). You need to contact your representatives and let them know you support this bill.

OK, say you don't know who your assclown is in Washington? A lot of us don't. To find out, go to this link and in the upper left-hand corner, you can enter your zip code and get the corresponding congress person. Click on their name to access the main phone number of their D.C. office.

We now resume normal programming. ...