A Letter from Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr
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As most of you know, or should know, Barney Frank has introduced a bill, H.R. 2046 ‘Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007’, that would “provide for the licensing of Internet gambling facilities by the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.”
I decided that my Congressional Representative, Bill Pascrell Jr, should have this bill brought to his attention, as I felt that this bill is very important and deserves to be made law. Unfoutanately, I do not have the exact text of my email as it was sent via an internet form and not using one of my personal email accounts.
A few days later, I received a reply to my email. The following is what Bill Pascrell Jr had to say:
Dear Mr. Lannigan :
Thank you for contacting me regarding internet radio. I appreciate you r concerns and welcome this opportunity to respond.
H.R 2060, the ” Internet Radio Equality Act,” would provide royalty parity for Internet radio providers. It would vacate the Copyright Royalty Board’s (CRB) March 2 decision to raise music royalty rates by 300 to 1200 percent and apply the same royalty rate-setting standard to commercial Internet radio, as well as satellite radio, cable radio and jukeboxes. A transition rate of 7.5 percent of revenue would be set through 2010.
Internet radio has provided the public with a way to express their views publicly, and allow others to listen for little or no cost. I am concerned that many citizens’ freedom of speech will be infringed due to the CRB’s decision to raise the royalty rates. Currently, H.R 2060 is pending action in the House Committee on Judiciary. I will be sure to keep you views in mind as this bill makes its way through the legislative process.
Please count of me if ever I assist you in any federal matter. I would like to remind you that my website, www.pascrell.house.gov, is frequently updated and provides a good way to communicate with me.
Sincerely,
Bill Pascrell Jr.
Member of Congress
I have since sent another email explaining the misunderstanding. Updates to follow.