Slashdot is carrying discussion of a news.com article about a bill, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act.  This bill, according to the C|Net article, "dictates universities that participate in federal financial aid programs 'shall' devise plans for 'alternative' offerings to unlawful downloading, such as subscription-based services, or 'technology-based deterrents to prevent such illegal activity.'"

Know what that sounds like to me?

Back in 2002, The Onion suggested that the RIAA (the trade organization for the music recording industry) might take their money-grubbing ways to the extreme, and try to hit up radio stations for royalties they've never legally been able to collect.  

(Why is it such an outrageous idea that the Onion ran with it as satire? Because it's the logical equivalent of Volkswagen charging ABC to air its commercials.  Airplay generates sales, which is why so many RIAA members and radio stations got their hands caught in the cookie jar in the most recent round of payola scandals.)

Oddly, Fark.com ran a link to The Onion's article earlier today, and I suspected they had a reason...and indeed they did.  (More after the break.)

I've seen a few "Save Web Radio" posts here at DK over the past few weeks; most sink quickly.  Which, given the fact that there are so many other things going on (US Attorney scandals, questionable appointments, lying appointees, etc.) and so many other distractions that misdirect from the news, makes sense.

I'm a webcaster.  My station is here.  It's a mix of new indie and classic alternative, and those who like it like it a lot.  I've put a lot into it as well, but because a combination of Democratic and Republican lawmakers have put some truly boneheaded laws into place, I may have to give it up.

Sure, it's a crying shame, but it's not worth worrying about when there's so much else wrong in the world, right?  Wrong.  I think there's something more ominous at work here, just as I do whenever it seems to me that there's a clear path to do the "right thing" that those in charge nonetheless avoid.  More after the jump...

Got a robocall today from the "US Chamber Of Commerce" reminding me that the polls are open 'til 8PM tomorrow here in NJ.  (Funny, I thought it was kinda hard to miss that today's election day...)

Caller ID reported that it came in at 1:44pm from "Out of area" at 800-547-2764.

Googled the number, and found a resource...more after the break...

All,

Short version: Record companies, having lobbied Congress with half-truths about the nature of Internet Broadcasting, now want to use their newly-materialized royalty-defining muscle to make it harder for Internet Stations to exist.  Your favorite Internet station may fall victim.

I tossed out an opening salvo about this over the weekend, here:

http://www.dailykos.com/...

..and so this is a bit of a diary rescue, but also a response to one comment that made a lot of sense: I (letting passion get before logic...again) needed to do a better job explaining who the acronyms I mentioned represent.

Fortunately, it appears there's someone who can do a better job than I could ever hope to...after the break.

All,

I program a web radio station called Altrok Radio, and by that I mean it's a fully licensed Internet radio station.  This means we pay money to keep our station in full compliance with current royalty policies as required by ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and the SoundExchange license required by the CARP recommendations made necessary by the DMCA.

That's a lot of acronyms, but the upshot is that we pay a larger share of royalties on the music we play than any other outlet.

But apparently, the music industry doesn't think it's enough; they'd rather charge enough to put me, and most other Internet Broadcasters, out of business.  More below...

Folks,

Somehow, I got on NewsMax's spam list.  You may have heard somewhere on the Internets that Tom DeLay is withdrawing from politics...but it's apparenly not because he's corrupt.  It's really the result of a Vast Left Wing Conspiracy, y'see.

Yeah.  That's the ticket.

A handy summary of all the evasions, not to mention a line-by-line evaluation with no dearth of snark, below the break...

Newsmax is trolling for more grist for their mill.  They say they'll be providing the results of this poll to major media, and they go on to say, "Additionally, NewsMax's results will be shared with every major radio talk show host in America."  (No surprise there.)

So here's the URL:

http://www.newsmax.com/...

...they ask for an e-mail address, so be forewarned.

Poll questions and analysis after the break...

Any advertising-supported medium, even a biased one, knows that they must court viewers to keep their ratings up, and therefore, their advertisers happy.

But the shoddy job Fox News has done in reporting (or rather, not reporting) the Gannon issue - e.g. what security breaches need to occur to allow the situation where a male prostitute gets called on, by "name", by the President - puts the lie to their effectiveness as a news organization of any caliber whatsoever.

We know the other media outlets cave to right-wing pressure - how about a little left wing pressure on Ailes' boys?

Direct contact info provided, for convenience, below the fold.

The story goes as follows: Bin Laden has entered China, after a guarantee of safe passage if he quelled Muslim uprisings in the western portion of the nation.  The US has successfully negotiated his extradition with China, and will announce it in a timely manner with respect to the election.

Is this one for real?  Ya got me, but as October surprises go, it has all the makings, doesn't it?

A translation is here:

http://www.student.richmond.edu/~zp8we/binladenchina.html

...and the original is here:

http://www.el-mundo.es/cronica/2004/469/1097487207.html

(Links were posted by "DEMachina" on Plastic.com.)

Here's something I stumbled across in the Springsteen newsgroup:

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=156

"Hearts And Minds"

Wouldn't it be nice to counter a propagandist film with one that's based on facts (and won the Oscar for Best Documentary?)

Is it possible that independent stations in Sinclair's markets would consider it?

I've reposted the original newsgroup post from Eddie Becker beneath the fold...

Folks,

They stuck up a "who do you want for president" poll while nobody (least of all us) was looking, and it looks like the Freepers have gotten there first...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6092749/

Currently, it's running with Bush ahead of Kerry, and Nader an afterthought: 59/41/1

Frankly, I don't know why they even bother, but what the hey...vote early and often.

I totally agree with the thought that Bush's record is getting swept under the rug, coverage-wise, while Kerry has to dismiss the Swift Boat Vets.

So how does this conversation's course get changed?  I think the Win Back Respect ad could be good to rally around, but I'd bet there are even better ideas...

What gets Win Back Respect's people onto Hardball?  Air America?  Anything?

Florida braces itself for twin disasters, with many of those who would normally keep people safe otherwise occupied...