Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.
- Bill Number
- H.Con.Res. 12
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-13: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T08:06:14Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 12) expresses congressional support for the Local Radio Freedom Act. Its main goal is to affirm that Congress should not impose new fees, taxes, royalties, or charges on local radio stations for playing music over the air, preserving the long-standing balance between the radio and music industries.
Key Provisions
- Background Rationale: The resolution highlights the mutually beneficial relationship between U.S. radio broadcasters and the sound recording industry, noting that radio provides free promotion for music sales, concerts, and artists through airplay, interviews, and event publicity.
- Historical Context: It points out that for nearly a century, Congress has rejected proposals from the recording industry to add a "performance fee" (a payment for playing recorded music on radio), as this would disrupt the symbiotic partnership.
- Public Benefits of Radio: Local stations deliver essential services like emergency news, weather updates, public affairs programming, sports coverage, and free public service announcements for charities, all funded by advertising without additional music-related costs.
- Core Resolution: Congress declares it should not enact any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or similar charge on local radio stations or businesses (e.g., bars, restaurants, stores) for the public performance of sound recordings over the airwaves.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding concurrent resolution, meaning it does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. Instead, it reaffirms the status quo: under current U.S. copyright law (such as the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 and related precedents), terrestrial (over-the-air) radio stations are not required to pay performance royalties to sound recording copyright holders for playing music, unlike digital streaming services. No new legal obligations are introduced.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Minimal direct impact, as this resolution guides congressional committees (e.g., Judiciary) but does not mandate action from agencies like the Copyright Office or FCC. It could influence future regulatory discussions on broadcasting fees.
- On Citizens: Helps maintain affordable access to free local radio for news, entertainment, weather, and emergency alerts, potentially preventing higher costs passed on through reduced services or increased business prices.
- On International Relations: Indirectly supports the U.S. music and broadcasting industries' global competitiveness by avoiding fees that could raise operational costs and affect exports of American music and media.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Local Radio Stations: Primary beneficiaries, protected from potential revenue-draining fees that could lead to economic hardship or station closures.
- Music and Recording Industry: Acknowledges benefits from radio promotion but opposes new fees to avoid straining the relationship; performers gain from continued free airplay exposure.
- Small Businesses: Entities like bars, restaurants, retail stores, and venues that play music would avoid added costs for public performances.
- Consumers and Listeners: Rely on radio for free content, including local news and charitable promotions, without indirect cost increases.
- Broadcasters and Advertisers: Supports the ad-supported model that funds diverse programming.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the existing exemption for terrestrial radio under federal copyright law (17 U.S.C. § 114), where no performance royalties are owed for sound recordings. It signals resistance to expanding royalty obligations, potentially preempting lawsuits or international treaty pressures (e.g., from WIPO agreements) that might favor recording artists.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges, but it upholds free speech and First Amendment interests in broadcasting by avoiding burdens on expressive content like music airplay.
- Political: Bipartisan support (introduced by over 100 House members from both parties) demonstrates strong congressional consensus for the radio industry. As a concurrent resolution, it requires House and Senate approval but no presidential signature, serving as a symbolic statement to deter future fee legislation and rally stakeholders against changes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (231)
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10] and 181 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-13: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-02-13: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act. — issued 2025-02-13 — PDF (3 pages)