The National Association of Broadcasters is reportedly trying to kill a bill introduced by Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., that supporters say would allow months of royalty negotiations between music and Internet industries to continue. The bill, which is scheduled to be taken up in the House shortly, authorizes digital royalty collector SoundExchange, on behalf of copyright owners and performers, to negotiate an alternative royalty agreement before the end of the year with any Internet radio service.

A source close to the issue told Tech Daily Dose that lobbyists for AM and FM radio are worried about competition from webcasters and extinguishing the bill would throw a wrench into the royalty talks. "If they kill this, that means they're able to kill the negotiations," the source said. The bill does not affect the scope of performance rights or underlying copyright law and does not impact broadcasters, SaveNetRadio said in a statement. The bill only clears the path for private negotiations to continue while Congress is in recess, the grassroots advocacy group said.

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