Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2016/05/19/2016-11746.html
Timestamp: 2019-06-20 20:00:51
Document Index: 790459613

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 165', 'art 165', 'ART 165', 'art 165', '§ 165', '§ 165', '§ 165', 'art 370', 'art 370', '§ 380', '§ 380', '§ 380', '§ 380', '§ 380', '§ 380', '§ 370', '§ 380', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', '§ 380', '§ 370', '§ 380', '§ 380', '§ 380', 'art 370', '§ 370', 'art 370', 'ART 370', 'art 370', '§ 370', '§ 370', 'art 52', 'art 370']

Notice and Recordkeeping for Use of Sound Recordings Under Statutory License, 31506-31511 [2016-11746] :: Copyright Royalty Board, Library Of Congress :: Library Of Congress :: Agencies And Commissions :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Agencies And Commissions Library Of Congress Copyright Royalty Board, Library Of Congress Notice and Recordkeeping for Use of Sound Recordings Under Statutory License, 31506-31511 [2016-11746]
Notice and Recordkeeping for Use of Sound Recordings Under Statutory License, 31506-31511 [2016-11746]
Download as PDF 31506 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1– 888–REG–FAIR (1–888–734–3247). The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard. C. Collection of Information This rule will not call for a new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520). asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order, Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism principles and preemption requirements described in Executive Order 13132. Also, this rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, because it does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes. If you believe this rule has implications for federalism or Indian tribes, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531–1538) requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 (adjusted for inflation) or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in such expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble. F. Environment We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 023–01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 May 18, 2016 Jkt 238001 Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321–4370f), and have determined that this action is one of a category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. This rule involves a safety zone during a 2-day period that will prohibit entry within the zone without permission of the Captain of the Port. It is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 34(g) of Figure 2–1 of the Commandant Instruction. An environmental analysis checklist supporting this determination and a Categorical Exclusion Determination are available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES. We seek any comments or information that may lead to the discovery of a significant environmental impact from this rule. G. Protest Activities The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. Protesters are asked to contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to coordinate protest activities so that your message can be received without jeopardizing the safety or security of people, places or vessels. List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165 Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, and Waterways. For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 165 as follows: PART 165–REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS 1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows: through 6:00 p.m. on May 22, 2016. Enforcement during the effective periods will allow for scheduled breaks allowing vessels to pass through the safety zone. Notice of scheduled breaks will be provided as indicated under (d) Informational broadcasts. (b) Regulations. (1) Under the general safety zone regulations in § 165.23 of this part, entry into this zone is prohibited to all persons and vessels except those vessels specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Port Arthur or a designated representative. (2) Persons or vessels requiring entry into or passage through must request permission from the Captain of the Port, Port Arthur, or a designated representative. They may be contacted on VHF–FM channel 13 or 16, or by phone at by telephone at 409–719–5070. (3) All persons and vessels shall comply with the lawful orders or directions given to them by the Captain of the Port, Port Arthur or the Captain of the Port’s designated representative. On-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel include commissioned, warrant, and petty officers of the U.S. Coast Guard. (c) Information broadcasts. The Coast Guard will inform the public through broadcast notices to mariners of channel restrictions and Vessel Traffic Service advisories on VHF–FM channel 65A. Dated: April 15, 2016. R.S. Ogrydziak, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Port Arthur, Texas. [FR Doc. 2016–11821 Filed 5–18–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P ■ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Authority 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05–1, 6.04–1, 6.04–6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. Copyright Royalty Board 2. Add temporary § 165.T08–0321 to read as follows: [Docket No. RM 2008–7] ■ § 165.T08–0321 Orange, Texas. Safety Zone; Sabine River, Location. The following area is a safety zone: Waters of the Sabine River, shoreline to shoreline, adjacent to the Orange public boat ramps located in Orange, TX. The northern boundary is from the end of old Navy Pier One at 30°05′50″ N. 93°43′15″ W. then easterly to the river’s eastern shore. The southern boundary is a line shoreline to shoreline at latitude 30°05′33″ N. (NAD83). (a) Effective Periods. This rule is effective from 8:30 a.m. on May 21, 2016 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 37 CFR Part 370 Notice and Recordkeeping for Use of Sound Recordings Under Statutory License Copyright Royalty Board, Library of Congress. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: The Copyright Royalty Judges are amending a Copyright Royalty Board rule regarding reporting requirements for certain Educational Stations that pay no more than the minimum fee for their use of sound recordings under the applicable statutory licenses. DATES: Effective May 19, 2016. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19MYR1.SGM 19MYR1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Whittle at (202) 707–7658 or at crb@loc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction On May 2, 2014, the Copyright Royalty Judges (Judges) published a document in the Federal Register seeking comments on two unrelated rulemaking proposals (Proposal).1 For the proposal that is the subject of this document the Judges requested comments on a proposed rule amendment to relax certain reporting requirements for educational stations that pay no more than the minimum fee for the use of sound recordings under the statutory licenses in Sections 112(e) and 114 of the Copyright Act. The Judges received over twenty comments on the proposal, most of which supported it. For the reasons discussed below, the Judges adopt the proposed amendment. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Background On October 28, 2009, College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI), American Council on Education (ACE), and Intercollegiate Broadcasting System, Inc. (IBS) (collectively, ‘‘Petitioners’’) filed a motion with the Judges seeking clarification of an issue purportedly raised by final regulations that the Judges adopted regarding reporting requirements for entities that digitally transmit sound recordings pursuant to section 114(d)(2) of the Copyright Act or that make ephemeral phonorecords of sound recordings pursuant to section 112(e) of that Act.2 Joint Petition for Clarification, Notice and Recordkeeping for Use of Sound Recordings Under the Statutory License, Docket No. RM 2008– 7 (Oct. 28, 2009) (Joint Petition). The regulations at issue are found in 37 CFR 370.4, and they prescribe rules for the maintenance and delivery of reports of use (ROUs).3 1 See 79 FR 25038. The Judges continue to analyze the second rulemaking proposal, submitted by SoundExchange, Inc., and the comments responsive thereto. 2 The release adopting the regulations appeared in 74 FR 52418 (Oct. 13, 2009). The applicable rules are codified in 37 CFR part 370. 3 An ROU is a report required to be provided by an entity that transmits sound recordings pursuant to the statutory licenses in section 114(d)(2) or that makes ephemeral recordings of sound recordings pursuant to section 112(e) of the Copyright Act. 37 CFR 370.1(i). ROUs must be delivered to the Collective designated by the Judges (currently SoundExchange, Inc.). See, e.g., 37 CFR 370.4(c). ROUs must include the name of the entity making the transmissions, a category transmission code, the featured artist of the sound recording, and the sound recording title, among other information. The current proceeding is focused only on the reporting requirements of ‘‘nonsubscription transmission services,’’ which are entities that provide audio VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 May 18, 2016 Jkt 238001 For nonsubscription transmission services, except those qualifying as minimum fee broadcasters, the ROU must include the actual total performances of each sound recording during the reporting period. 37 CFR 370.4(d)(2)(vi). Minimum fee broadcasters, however, may report, as an alternative to actual total performances, the aggregate tuning hours, the channel or program name, and play frequency. 37 CFR 370.4(d)(2)(vii). Whereas most services must prepare an ROU for each calendar month of the year, a minimum fee broadcaster need only prepare an ROU for a two-week period for each calendar quarter of the year. 37 CFR 370.4(d)(3).4 However, the regulations exempt minimum-fee broadcasters from the census reporting requirement (i.e., the requirement to report actual total performances) only if their stations are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) because the FCC licensing is part of the definition of ‘‘broadcaster.’’ Petitioners asked that the Judges ‘‘clarify’’ that the regulations also exempt minimum-fee broadcasters that are not FCC-licensed broadcasters if they are ‘‘educational’’ in nature. Joint Petition at 2–4. After reviewing the Joint Petition, the Judges concluded that Petitioners were not seeking a clarification of the final regulations but rather were seeking a substantive change. In other words, the ‘‘clarification’’ that the Petitioners sought actually amounted to a request to amend the census reporting requirement regulations to exempt non-FCC-licensed minimum-fee educational webcasters. The Judges thus determined that Petitioners’ petition for clarification should be treated as a petition for rulemaking and made the Joint Petition subject to notice and public comment.5 On May 2, 2014, the Judges published the Proposal in the Federal Register seeking comments on the Petitioners’ proposal.6 The Judges requested comments on not only the Petitioners’ principal proposal, which would exempt non-FCC-licensed minimum fee educational webcasters from the census reporting requirement, but also on a programming consisting of performances of sound recordings. See 37 CFR 370.1(e). Such services are often referred to as webcasters. 4 The weeks need not be consecutive but both must be completely within the calendar quarter. 37 CFR 370.4(d)(3)(ii). 5 79 FR at 25039. 6 79 FR 25038. In the interest of administrative efficiency, the Judges also sought comments in the same notice on an unrelated petition for rulemaking that SoundExchange submitted. SoundExchange’s proposal, which requested a broad range of changes to CRB rules, is still pending. The current release addresses only the census reporting requirement proposal submitted by the Petitioners. PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 31507 broader alternative proposal that Petitioners proffered that would expand the census reporting exemption to entities that are noncommercial webcasters but that would not be considered educational entities under the Petitioners’ proposal. In response to the Proposal, the Judges received approximately twentyfour comments.7 No commenter opposed the Petitioners’ proposal for educational webcasters. SoundExchange did, however, oppose Petitioners’ broader alternative proposal to exclude from the census reporting requirements noneducational noncommercial webcasters. As discussed below, the Judges are adopting the Petitioners’ proposed exemption for non-FCClicensed educational broadcasters, but are not adopting the broader noncommercial webcaster exemption. Petitioners’ Rule Proposal Petitioners propose that the definition of a ‘‘minimum fee broadcaster’’ in 37 CFR 370.4(b)(3) be amended to include a nonsubscription service that: (1) Is directly operated by, or affiliated with and officially sanctioned by a domestically accredited primary or secondary school, college, university, or other post-secondary degree-granting educational institution; and (2) the digital audio transmission operations of which are, during the course of the year, staffed substantially by students enrolled in such institution; and (3) is not a ‘‘public broadcasting entity’’ (as defined in 17 U.S.C. 118(g)) qualified to receive funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) pursuant to the criteria set forth in 47 U.S.C. 396; and (4) is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code, has applied for such exemption, or is operated by a State or possession or any governmental entity or subordinate thereof, or by the United States or District of Columbia, for exclusively public purposes. Joint Petition at 2 n.1. While the proposed language upon which the Judges requested comments did not incorporate CBI’s singular reference to ‘‘Educational Stations,’’ the proposal retained the substance of the Petitioners’ proposal. In the Proposal soliciting comment on the proposal, in addition to seeking 7 The Judges received comments that addressed in some fashion the Petitioners’ proposal from the following: All-Campus Radio Network (ACRN), Andrea Baker, CBI, IBS, KBCU–FM, KBHU–FM, KNHC, KSSU, KUIW, KWSC–FM, KXUL, Lasell College Radio, the National Association of Broadcasters and Radio Music License Committee (NAB/RMLC), NPR, SCAD Atlanta Radio, SoundExchange, WBSU, WGSU–FM, WJCU, WKNC–FM, WRFL–FM, WSDP–FM, WSLX, and WSOU–FM (Seton Hall University). E:\FR\FM\19MYR1.SGM 19MYR1 31508 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations comments on the proposal generally, the Judges also sought comments on certain specific issues. In particular, the Judges sought comment on how unlicensed minimum fee ‘‘Educational Stations,’’ as that term would be defined in Petitioners’ proposal, have been reporting under the current regulations. The Judges also asked whether any such entities have ceased operations, as predicted by Petitioners and if so, how many. If none ceased operations, the Judges asked whether the need still exists for Petitioners’ proposed amendment. The Judges also asked whether Petitioners have, in the first instance, made their case persuasively that the proposed amendment is warranted. If the change is warranted, the Judges asked whether they should adopt (1) Petitioners’ preferred definition, which applies only to Educational Stations, or (2) the broader, alternate definition.8 Comment Summary Of the 24 comments the Judges reviewed, none opposed the specific language included in the Proposal, although, as discussed below, SoundExchange opposed adopting a more expansive exemption from the census reporting requirements for noncommercial webcasters that are not affiliated with an educational organization. All-Campus Radio Network’s (ACRN) comment is illustrative of those that supported the proposal. Because it has no FCC license, ACRN cannot qualify as a ‘‘minimum fee broadcaster’’ under 37 CFR 370.4(b)(3).9 ACRN is, however, a Noncommercial Educational Webcaster (NEW) as defined in 37 CFR 380.21.10 8 79 FR at 25040. 370.4(b)(3) states that a minimum fee broadcaster is a nonsubscription service that meets the definition of a broadcaster pursuant to § 380.2(b) and the service’s payments for eligible transmissions do not exceed the annual minimum fee established for licensees relying upon the statutory licenses set forth in 17 U.S.C. 112 and 114. At the time of the motion for clarification 37 CFR 380.2 defined a broadcaster as a type of Licensee that owns and operates a terrestrial AM or FM radio station that is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. 10 Under § 380.21, a NEW is a noncommercial webcaster (as defined in 17 U.S.C. 114(f)(5)(E)(i)) that has obtained a compulsory license, complies with all applicable provisions of the license, is operated by or affiliated with and sanctioned by a primary or secondary school, college or university or other degree-granting educational institution, and is not a public broadcasting entity qualified to receive funding from the CPB. 17 CFR 380.21. As part of the supporting regulations for the Section 112 and 114 webcasting licenses, § 380.21, by its terms, expires at the end of each licensing period (currently December 31, 2020). See 37 CFR 380.20(a). The most recent iteration of § 380.21, which was adopted after comments in the current rulemaking proceeding were filed, includes an asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES 9 Section VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 May 18, 2016 Jkt 238001 As such, ACRN has a reporting waiver under 37 CFR 380.23(c) and (g)(1), which authorizes payment to the Collective of a $100 proxy fee in lieu of maintaining and delivering ROUs. ACRN would like to continue to report as a NEW indefinitely.11 In the alternative, ACRN supports the proposal to change 37 CFR 370.4(b)(2) so that ACRN would qualify as a minimum fee broadcaster.12 It views this option as less desirable, however. KBCU–FM, KBHU, KNHC, KSSU, KWSC–FM, and KXUL all generally concurred with the position of ACRN. KUIW and Lasell College Radio, which also support the proposal, state that they would probably have to cease broadcasting if the reporting provision for NEWs were to expire and they could not qualify as minimum fee broadcasters.13 CBI supports continuing the reporting requirements in § 380.23, which were negotiated as part of a settlement with SoundExchange, because, according to CBI, those requirements are simpler to follow and impose fewer obstacles than the rules with which non-NEWS must comply. CBI Comment at 5. CBI states that it conducted a survey and determined that fewer than 13% of nonFCC-licensed stations are currently able to report actual total performance (ATP) data. According to CBI, fewer than 18% of those stations reported that they would be able to find a means to comply with full census ATP reporting should the requirements in § 380.23 be allowed to expire and the proposed regulations in the Joint Petition not be adopted.14 additional requirement that the noncommercial webcaster take affirmative steps not to make total transmissions in excess of 159,140 Aggregate Tuning Hours on any individual channel or station in any month, if in any previous calendar year it has made total transmissions in excess of 159,140 Aggregate Tuning Hours on any individual channel or station in any month. 37 CFR 380.21 (2015). 11 As part of the supporting regulations for the webcasting licenses, the reporting waiver expires every five years, unless it is renewed. 12 ACRN states that the proposed changes are ‘‘warranted only if the alternative to report under 380.23 were to not sunset [sic].’’ ACRN Comment at 3, emphasis in original. Read in the context of the ACRN letter as a whole, it appears that ACRN meant that the proposed changes would be warranted only if the alternative to report under 380.23 were to sunset. 13 KUIW Comment at 1–2. Lasell Comment at 1– 2. Each commenter recommends that the reporting requirements applicable to NEWs be made permanent. Such a recommendation is beyond the scope of the proposal upon which the Judges sought comment in the current proceeding. As such, the Judges do not have adequate support in the record to support adopting such a proposal. 14 Andrea Baker supports applying the Petitioner’s preferred definition of ‘‘minimum fee broadcaster’’ because, according to Ms. Baker, the proposal is more likely to move users of sound recordings away from reporting of sampled data. The proposal would in fact allow more users to PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Neither CBI nor any other commenter provided data on any non-licensed entity that ceased operation due to the ROU reporting requirement. That being said, the great majority of commenters that are subject to the ROU reporting requirement appear to be paying the $100 proxy fee in lieu of reporting (an alternative that is now available through 2020). See Determination (final), Determination of Royalty Rates and Terms for Ephemeral Recording and Webcasting Digital Performance of Sound Recordings (Web–IV), Docket No. 14–CRB–0001–WR (2016–2020) (Mar. 2, 2016). Not surprisingly, IBS also supports its Joint Petition. IBS adds that it agrees with SoundExchange’s position that NEWs with fewer than 55,000 aggregate tuning hours (ATH) per month should be permitted to pay an annual $100 proxy fee in lieu of census reporting. IBS also contends that NEWs with fewer than 15,914 ATH monthly should pay a $50 proxy fee and NEWS with fewer than 6,365 ATH monthly should pay a $20 proxy fee. IBS believes that each of these categories should be exempt from the $500 annual minimum fee. Reply Comments of IBS at 1. Because IBS made its suggestions in Reply Comments, the Judges were unable to include them in the Proposal, and therefore have no basis upon which to adopt them. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) advocate an exemption from all reporting requirements for broadcasters that currently pay the minimum fee of $500. They contend that many of these entities are already exempt from reporting requirements as long as they pay the $100 annual proxy fee (i.e., small broadcasters that stream no more than 27,777 aggregate tuning hours (ATH) and noncommercial educational webcasters that stream less than 55,000 annual ATH). Moreover, according to NAB, most of these entities play ‘‘mainstream’’ music that larger broadcasters play so the allocations of royalties paid by these entities could be made based on playlist data collected from larger broadcasters. NAB/RMLC Comment at 51–52. According to National Public Radio, Inc. (NPR), the current recordkeeping and reporting system is the result of a settlement agreement between SoundExchange and the CPB. NPR estimates that about 402 stations operate choose to report sampled data. Through 2020, however, to the extent they qualify to pay the proxy fee in lieu of reporting, the users that would benefit from the proposal are not reporting any sound recording play data. E:\FR\FM\19MYR1.SGM 19MYR1 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations under the agreement. NPR Comment at 7. NPR notes that it aggregates the reports of each of these stations and reports directly to SoundExchange on behalf of all the stations. NPR states that it currently operates under the settlement agreement with SoundExchange, and, as a result, it is not subject to certain of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements in the regulations. NPR believes, however, that the regulations should be flexible to allow parties that are not parties to agreements to be able to use the license in a manner that is not overly burdensome. NPR Comment at 1–3. SCAD Atlanta Radio 15 is a NEW under 37 CFR 380.21. It is a web-only, student-run station and does not have an FCC license so it cannot qualify as a minimum fee broadcaster under 37 CFR 370.4(b)(3). As a NEW, SCAD Atlanta pays the proxy fee in lieu of reporting, as permitted under 37 CFR 380.23. It would like to continue to report that way and therefore requests that the sunset provisions in the regulations be removed. In the alternative, SCAD Atlanta supports the proposed change to 37 CFR 370.4(b)(2), which would qualify SCAD Atlanta as a minimum fee broadcaster if the NEW designation sunsets. SCAD Atlanta states that if it lost the ability to report as a NEW and was forced to report monthly census data, the station would face considerable hardship and expense. SCAD Atlanta Comment at 2. In its initial comment, SoundExchange stated that the Joint Petition is moot through 2015 (and now presumably through 2020). According to SoundExchange, pursuant to 37 CFR 380.23(g)(2), a NEW with usage at a level covered by the minimum fee is currently permitted to provide ROUs on a sample basis as contemplated by proposed § 370.4(b)(2) and is even excused from reporting its ATH. SoundExchange Comment at 3. SoundExchange notes that such services report play frequency in lieu of reporting ATH or actual total performances. SoundExchange states that the vast majority of NEWs are not even required to provide sample ROUs. SoundExchange states that, pursuant to 37 CFR 380.23(g)(1), NEWs with the lowest intensity of usage may elect to pay a proxy fee of $100 and forgo providing ROUs altogether. According 15 SCAD Atlanta states that the station is produced by students at the Atlanta location of the Savannah College of Art and Design. The Judges also received a substantially identical comment from ‘‘SCAD Radio,’’ which states that the station is produced by students at the Savannah location of the Savannah College of Art and Design. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 May 18, 2016 Jkt 238001 to SoundExchange, for 2013, 97% of NEWs elected this reporting waiver and were not required to provide any ROUs. As a result of the Web–IV Determination, § 380.23(g)(1) and (2) remain in effect through 2020, at which point the Judges will determine rates and terms for the next rate period (2021–2025) (Web-V). Nevertheless, SoundExchange does not oppose the Petitioners’ proposed definition of ‘‘Minimum Fee Broadcaster’’ for § 370.4(b)(2). SoundExchange highlights certain technical errors in the proposal (i.e., SoundExchange opines that there should be a comma following the phrase ‘‘officially sanctioned by’’ in § 370.4(b)(2)(ii) and the reference in proposed § 370.4(b)(2)(iv) should be Section 118(f) (rather than 118(g)).16 SoundExchange also recommends changing the proposed term from ‘‘Minimum Fee Broadcaster’’ to ‘‘Eligible Minimum Fee Webcaster’’ (or the like) to more accurately reflect the fact that certain of the services covered are not broadcasters. SoundExchange Comment at n.2.17 According to SoundExchange, adoption of this proposal ‘‘seems like a reasonable deviation from the important principle of census reporting.’’ SoundExchange Comment at 4. SoundExchange does not support the broader alternative proposal to include internet-only noncommercial webcasters that are not educational webcasters (which are not currently covered by § 380.23(g)(2)). For such webcasters, if they are staffed by professionals or use modern content management technology capable of readily generated ROUs on a census basis, they should not be exempted from census reporting just because they are low-intensity noncommercial users. SoundExchange does not believe that the Petitioners have made the case for a broader exemption. SoundExchange Comment at 4. While SoundExchange is not opposed to the narrow proposed definition of Minimum Fee Broadcaster in § 370.4(b) (with the technical corrections discussed above), SoundExchange notes that ‘‘NEWs would like to include in the notice and recordkeeping regulations the outright reporting waiver and play frequency reporting provisions of 16 The Judges adopted these technical corrections in the final regulation. 17 The Judges believe that the term ‘‘eligible minimum fee webcaster’’ more accurately reflects the fact that some of the entities covered by the definition would not satisfy the applicable definition of broadcaster and therefore accept SoundExchange’s suggestion in the adopted regulation. PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 31509 Section 380.23(g), but not the late fee for ROUs provided in Section 380.23(e) or the server log retention provisions of Section 380.23(i).’’ SoundExchange Reply Comments at 7. SoundExchange does not believe that NEWs should be given their requested ‘‘special exemption’’ in these regulations because, according to SoundExchange, ‘‘their concerns are addressed directly in the terms to which CBI agreed.’’ SoundExchange Reply Comments at 8. SoundExchange does not believe it is fair for NEWs to pick and choose their favorite provisions from § 380.23 that were negotiated by CBI. SoundExchange notes that the agreement to settle the Web IV proceeding as to NEWs on a basis that would generally extend the relevant provisions of § 380.23 moots the issues raised in the Joint Petition through 2020. Anticipating the adoption of such agreement, which the Judges adopted during the Web IV proceeding, SoundExchange found no reason for the Judges to adopt the proposals in the NPRM based on the Joint Petition. SoundExchange speculates that under such a scenario, the Judges could revisit the question of reporting by NEWs based on a fresh record in five years. Otherwise, SoundExchange recommends that the Judges either adopt the equivalent of all the relevant provisions of § 380.23 (i.e., the proposed late fee for ROUs and proposed recordkeeping provisions) or adopt only the changes to the definition of Minimum Fee Broadcaster proposed in the NPRM. SoundExchange Reply Comments at 9. SoundExchange Settlement With CBI In the context of the Web IV proceeding, the Judges were presented with two settlements that bear on the reporting requirements at issue in this rulemaking.18 In one settlement, SoundExchange and CBI requested that the Judges adopt their agreement as a partial settlement of rates and terms under Section 112(e) and 114 of the Copyright Act (Act) for eligible nonsubscription transmissions by NEWs over the internet, and related ephemeral recordings. In the Federal Register document adopting the SoundExchange/CBI settlement, the Judges noted: Commercial webcasters are required to make detailed, census reports of all sound recordings they transmit. NEWs with limited listenership may pay the Collective a proxy fee to avoid the burden of census 18 See 80 FR 58201 (Sept. 28, 2015) (adopting proposed settlement between SoundExchange and CBI) and 80 FR 59588 (Oct. 2, 2015) (adopting proposed settlement between SoundExchange and NPR and the CPB). E:\FR\FM\19MYR1.SGM 19MYR1 31510 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations reporting. . . . A NEW electing the reporting waiver in 37 CFR 380.23(g)(1) must pay a $100 annual proxy fee to the Collective. Proposed Rule 37 CFR 380.22(a).19 In adopting the SoundExchange/CBI Settlement, the Judges noted the relevance of the Settlement to the current rulemaking proceeding: asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Many if not most of the comments responsive to the proposed recordkeeping provisions were filed by NEWs that apparently would qualify under the proposed Settlement to pay the proxy fee in lieu of census reporting in the upcoming license period. Extension until December 31, 2020, of the proxy fee in lieu of census reporting does not, however, address the precise issue raised in that rulemaking proceeding. The Judges shall address this issue along with a number of other issues relating to Part 370 in a separate publication focused directly on the May 2, 2014, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.20 In other words, although the SoundExchange/CBI settlement provided a means for qualifying NEWs to pay a $100 proxy fee in lieu of census reporting through December 31, 2020, it does not, as the current proposal would, provide a permanent means for entities that meet the proposed definition of noncommercial educational webcasters to pay the proxy fee in lieu of census reporting. In light of the overwhelming support in favor of such a reporting waiver and the lack of opposition, the Judges find that adopting the proposed alternative for a permanent exemption from census reporting requirements is beneficial and consistent with the Copyright Act. Given their adoption of the proposed exemption, the Judges decline to adopt a broader alternative proposed by Petitioners. Notwithstanding the unique stature of NEWs as noncommercial entities with an educational mission, the Judges do not believe extending the exemption to other noncommercial webcasters would be consistent with the policy intended to ease reporting obligations on NEWs. As discussed by some of the commenters, NEWs are often student-operated stations. The students generally perform station operations to supplement their academic pursuits during a given academic term. As a rule, with semester and summer breaks, the stations lack operational continuity. Without a paid administrative staff and adequate financial and technological support, census reporting would present a significant challenge for those stations that could cause the educational institution to discontinue the stations to avoid the administrative 19 80 20 80 FR at 58201. FR 58201, 58205 (Sept. 28, 2015). VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 May 18, 2016 Jkt 238001 burdens. Neither the students, the educational entity, nor the artists would benefit from elimination of the campus stations. The Judges agree with SoundExchange, however, that noncommercial noneducational webcasters have not made the case that they face the same challenges. Therefore, the Judges decline to extend the reporting requirement exemption to noncommercial webcasters that do not have the requisite affiliation with an educational institution. SoundExchange contends that in light of the agreements SoundExchange, CPB, CBI, and NPR reached during the Web IV proceeding, which the Judges adopted, the current rulemaking is moot, at least through 2020. While the Judges agree that many webcasters that are eligible for either of the agreements will choose to pay the proxy fee in lieu of reporting, each such agreement has conditions and limitations that would not apply with respect to the proposal the Judges adopt today. Moreover, by adopting the proposal in the Petition as a permanent rule, the Judges provide certainty that, even if the current agreements are not extended in subsequent rate periods, eligible noncommercial educational webcasters will be able to avail themselves of the reduced reporting requirements in § 370.4, regardless of whether they are licensed with the FCC. Such certainty is sufficient justification for adopting the proposal. Final Regulations In consideration of the foregoing, the Copyright Royalty Judges amend 37 CFR part 370 as follows: PART 370—NOTICE AND RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES 1. The authority citation for part 370 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 17 U.S.C. 112(e)(4), 114(f)(4)(A). 2. Revise § 370.4(a) and (b) to read as follows: ■ § 370.4 Reports of use of sound recordings under statutory license for nonsubscription transmission services, preexisting satellite digital audio radio services, new subscription services and business establishment services. (a) General. This section prescribes rules for the maintenance and delivery of Reports of Use of sound recordings under section 112(e) or section 114 of title 17 of the United States Code, or both, by nonsubscription transmission services, preexisting satellite digital audio radio services, new subscription PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 services, and business establishment services. (b) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: Aggregate Tuning Hours means the total hours of programming that a nonsubscription transmission service, preexisting satellite digital audio radio service, new subscription service or business establishment service has transmitted during the reporting period identified in paragraph (d)(3) of this section to all listeners within the United States over the relevant channels or stations, and from any archived programs, that provide audio programming consisting, in whole or in part, of eligible nonsubscription service, preexisting satellite digital audio radio service, new subscription service or business establishment service transmissions, less the actual running time of any sound recordings for which the service has obtained direct licenses apart from 17 U.S.C. 114(d)(2) or which do not require a license under United States copyright law. For example, if a nonsubscription transmission service transmitted one hour of programming to 10 simultaneous listeners, the nonsubscription transmission service’s Aggregate Tuning Hours would equal 10. If 3 minutes of that hour consisted of transmission of a directly licensed recording, the nonsubscription transmission service’s Aggregate Tuning Hours would equal 9 hours and 30 minutes. If one listener listened to the transmission of a nonsubscription transmission service for 10 hours (and none of the recordings transmitted during that time was directly licensed), the nonsubscription transmission service’s Aggregate Tuning Hours would equal 10. AM/FM Webcast means a transmission made by an entity that transmits an AM/FM broadcast signal over a digital communications network such as the Internet, regardless of whether the transmission is made by the broadcaster that originates the AM/FM signal or by a third party, provided that such transmission meets the applicable requirements of the statutory license set forth in 17 U.S.C. 114(d)(2). Broadcaster means an entity that: (i) Has a substantial business owning and operating one or more terrestrial AM or FM radio stations that are licensed as such by the Federal Communications Commission; (ii) Has obtained a compulsory license under 17 U.S.C. 112(e) and 114 and the implementing regulations therefor to make Eligible Transmissions and related ephemeral recordings; E:\FR\FM\19MYR1.SGM 19MYR1 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations (iii) Complies with all applicable provisions of Sections 112(e) and 114 and applicable regulations; and (iv) Is not a noncommercial webcaster as defined in 17 U.S.C. 114(f)(5)(E)(i). Eligible Minimum Fee Webcaster means a nonsubscription transmission service whose payments for eligible transmissions do not exceed the annual minimum fee established for licensees relying upon the statutory licenses set forth in 17 U.S.C. 112(e) and 114; and either: (i) Meets the definition of a broadcaster; or (ii) Is directly operated by, or affiliated with and officially sanctioned by, a domestically accredited primary or secondary school, college, university or other post-secondary degree-granting educational institution; and (A) The digital audio transmission operations of which are, during the course of the year, staffed substantially by students enrolled in such institution; and (B) Is not a ‘‘public broadcasting entity’’ (as defined in 17 U.S.C. 118(f)) qualified to receive funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting pursuant to the criteria set forth in 47 U.S.C. 396; and (C) Is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code, has applied for such exemption, or is operated by a State or possession or any governmental entity or subordinate thereof, or by the United States or District of Columbia, for exclusively public purposes. Minimum fee broadcaster means a nonsubscription service that meets the definition of a broadcaster and the service’s payments for eligible transmissions do not exceed the annual minimum fee established for licensees relying upon the statutory licenses set forth in 17 U.S.C. 112 and 114. Performance means each instance in which any portion of a sound recording is publicly performed to a Listener by means of a digital audio transmission or retransmission (e.g., the delivery of any portion of a single track from a compact disc to one Listener) but excluding the following: (i) A performance of a sound recording that does not require a license (e.g., the sound recording is not copyrighted); (ii) A performance of a sound recording for which the service has previously obtained a license from the Copyright Owner of such sound recording; and (iii) An incidental performance that both: (A) Makes no more than incidental use of sound recordings including, but VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 May 18, 2016 Jkt 238001 not limited to, brief musical transitions in and out of commercials or program segments, brief performances during news, talk and sports programming, brief background performances during disk jockey announcements, brief performances during commercials of sixty seconds or less in duration, or brief performances during sporting or other public events; and (B) Other than ambient music that is background at a public event, does not contain an entire sound recording and does not feature a particular sound recording of more than thirty seconds (as in the case of a sound recording used as a theme song). Play frequency means the number of times a sound recording is publicly performed by a Service during the relevant period, without respect to the number of listeners receiving the sound recording. If a particular sound recording is transmitted to listeners on a particular channel or program only once during the reporting period, then the play frequency is one. If the sound recording is transmitted 10 times during the reporting period, then the play frequency is 10. * * * * * Dated: May 10, 2016. Suzanne M. Barnett, Chief Copyright Royalty Judge. Approved by: David S. Mao, Acting Librarian of Congress. [FR Doc. 2016–11746 Filed 5–18–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 1410–72–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [EPA–R10–OAR–2015–0353; FRL–9946–49– Region 10] Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Alaska: Updates to Incorporation by Reference and Miscellaneous Revisions Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving, and incorporating by reference, State Implementation Plan revisions submitted by Alaska on May 12, 2015. The revisions updated the incorporation by reference of certain Federal provisions, revised rules to reflect changes to Federal permitting requirements and the 2013 redesignation of the Mendenhall Valley SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 31511 area of Juneau, and made minor clarifications to Alaska air quality rules. We note that the May 12, 2015 submission also included transportation conformity and infrastructure requirements. These requirements are not being addressed in this action. We approved the transportation conformity revisions in a previous action on September 8, 2015, and we intend to address the infrastructure requirements in a separate, future action. DATES: This final rule is effective on June 20, 2016. ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket Identification No. EPA–R10–OAR– 2015–0353. All documents in the docket are listed on the http:// www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some information may not be publicly available, i.e., Confidential Business Information or other information the disclosure of which is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through http:// www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at EPA Region 10, Office of Air, Waste, and Toxics, AWT–150, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101. The EPA requests that you contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to schedule your inspection. The Regional Office’s official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin Hall at (206) 553–6357, hall.kristin@epa.gov, or by using the above EPA, Region 10 address. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document wherever ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, it is intended to refer to the EPA. Table of Contents I. Background II. Final Action III. Incorporation by Reference IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews I. Background On May 12, 2015, Alaska submitted revisions to the Alaska SIP. On March 4, 2016, the EPA proposed to approve specific revisions in the submission (81 FR 11497). Please see our proposed rulemaking for further explanation and the basis for our finding. The public comment period for the proposal ended on April 4, 2016. We received one comment, a letter from the Alaska E:\FR\FM\19MYR1.SGM 19MYR1
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 97 (Thursday, May 19, 2016)]
[Pages 31506-31511]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11746]
SUMMARY: The Copyright Royalty Judges are amending a Copyright Royalty
Board rule regarding reporting requirements for certain Educational
Stations that pay no more than the minimum fee for their use of sound
recordings under the applicable statutory licenses.
DATES: Effective May 19, 2016.
[[Page 31507]]
On May 2, 2014, the Copyright Royalty Judges (Judges) published a
document in the Federal Register seeking comments on two unrelated
rulemaking proposals (Proposal).\1\ For the proposal that is the
subject of this document the Judges requested comments on a proposed
rule amendment to relax certain reporting requirements for educational
stations that pay no more than the minimum fee for the use of sound
recordings under the statutory licenses in Sections 112(e) and 114 of
the Copyright Act. The Judges received over twenty comments on the
proposal, most of which supported it. For the reasons discussed below,
the Judges adopt the proposed amendment.
\1\ See 79 FR 25038. The Judges continue to analyze the second
rulemaking proposal, submitted by SoundExchange, Inc., and the
comments responsive thereto.
Council on Education (ACE), and Intercollegiate Broadcasting System,
Inc. (IBS) (collectively, ``Petitioners'') filed a motion with the
Judges seeking clarification of an issue purportedly raised by final
regulations that the Judges adopted regarding reporting requirements
for entities that digitally transmit sound recordings pursuant to
section 114(d)(2) of the Copyright Act or that make ephemeral
phonorecords of sound recordings pursuant to section 112(e) of that
Act.\2\ Joint Petition for Clarification, Notice and Recordkeeping for
Use of Sound Recordings Under the Statutory License, Docket No. RM
2008-7 (Oct. 28, 2009) (Joint Petition). The regulations at issue are
found in 37 CFR 370.4, and they prescribe rules for the maintenance and
delivery of reports of use (ROUs).\3\
\2\ The release adopting the regulations appeared in 74 FR 52418
(Oct. 13, 2009). The applicable rules are codified in 37 CFR part
\3\ An ROU is a report required to be provided by an entity that
transmits sound recordings pursuant to the statutory licenses in
section 114(d)(2) or that makes ephemeral recordings of sound
recordings pursuant to section 112(e) of the Copyright Act. 37 CFR
370.1(i). ROUs must be delivered to the Collective designated by the
Judges (currently SoundExchange, Inc.). See, e.g., 37 CFR 370.4(c).
ROUs must include the name of the entity making the transmissions, a
category transmission code, the featured artist of the sound
recording, and the sound recording title, among other information.
The current proceeding is focused only on the reporting requirements
of ``nonsubscription transmission services,'' which are entities
that provide audio programming consisting of performances of sound
recordings. See 37 CFR 370.1(e). Such services are often referred to
as webcasters.
For nonsubscription transmission services, except those qualifying
as minimum fee broadcasters, the ROU must include the actual total
performances of each sound recording during the reporting period. 37
CFR 370.4(d)(2)(vi). Minimum fee broadcasters, however, may report, as
an alternative to actual total performances, the aggregate tuning
hours, the channel or program name, and play frequency. 37 CFR
370.4(d)(2)(vii).
Whereas most services must prepare an ROU for each calendar month
of the year, a minimum fee broadcaster need only prepare an ROU for a
two-week period for each calendar quarter of the year. 37 CFR
370.4(d)(3).\4\ However, the regulations exempt minimum-fee
broadcasters from the census reporting requirement (i.e., the
requirement to report actual total performances) only if their stations
are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) because the
FCC licensing is part of the definition of ``broadcaster.'' Petitioners
asked that the Judges ``clarify'' that the regulations also exempt
minimum-fee broadcasters that are not FCC-licensed broadcasters if they
are ``educational'' in nature. Joint Petition at 2-4.
\4\ The weeks need not be consecutive but both must be
completely within the calendar quarter. 37 CFR 370.4(d)(3)(ii).
After reviewing the Joint Petition, the Judges concluded that
Petitioners were not seeking a clarification of the final regulations
but rather were seeking a substantive change. In other words, the
``clarification'' that the Petitioners sought actually amounted to a
request to amend the census reporting requirement regulations to exempt
non-FCC-licensed minimum-fee educational webcasters. The Judges thus
determined that Petitioners' petition for clarification should be
treated as a petition for rulemaking and made the Joint Petition
subject to notice and public comment.\5\
\5\ 79 FR at 25039.
On May 2, 2014, the Judges published the Proposal in the Federal
Register seeking comments on the Petitioners' proposal.\6\ The Judges
requested comments on not only the Petitioners' principal proposal,
which would exempt non-FCC-licensed minimum fee educational webcasters
from the census reporting requirement, but also on a broader
alternative proposal that Petitioners proffered that would expand the
census reporting exemption to entities that are noncommercial
webcasters but that would not be considered educational entities under
the Petitioners' proposal.
\6\ 79 FR 25038. In the interest of administrative efficiency,
the Judges also sought comments in the same notice on an unrelated
petition for rulemaking that SoundExchange submitted.
SoundExchange's proposal, which requested a broad range of changes
to CRB rules, is still pending. The current release addresses only
the census reporting requirement proposal submitted by the
In response to the Proposal, the Judges received approximately
twenty-four comments.\7\ No commenter opposed the Petitioners' proposal
for educational webcasters. SoundExchange did, however, oppose
Petitioners' broader alternative proposal to exclude from the census
reporting requirements noneducational noncommercial webcasters. As
discussed below, the Judges are adopting the Petitioners' proposed
exemption for non-FCC-licensed educational broadcasters, but are not
adopting the broader noncommercial webcaster exemption.
\7\ The Judges received comments that addressed in some fashion
the Petitioners' proposal from the following: All-Campus Radio
Network (ACRN), Andrea Baker, CBI, IBS, KBCU-FM, KBHU-FM, KNHC,
KSSU, KUIW, KWSC-FM, KXUL, Lasell College Radio, the National
Association of Broadcasters and Radio Music License Committee (NAB/
RMLC), NPR, SCAD Atlanta Radio, SoundExchange, WBSU, WGSU-FM, WJCU,
WKNC-FM, WRFL-FM, WSDP-FM, WSLX, and WSOU-FM (Seton Hall
Petitioners' Rule Proposal
Petitioners propose that the definition of a ``minimum fee
broadcaster'' in 37 CFR 370.4(b)(3) be amended to include a
nonsubscription service that: (1) Is directly operated by, or
affiliated with and officially sanctioned by a domestically accredited
primary or secondary school, college, university, or other post-
secondary degree-granting educational institution; and (2) the digital
audio transmission operations of which are, during the course of the
year, staffed substantially by students enrolled in such institution;
and (3) is not a ``public broadcasting entity'' (as defined in 17
Public Broadcasting (CPB) pursuant to the criteria set forth in 47
U.S.C. 396; and (4) is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the
Internal Revenue Code, has applied for such exemption, or is operated
by a State or possession or any governmental entity or subordinate
exclusively public purposes. Joint Petition at 2 n.1. While the
proposed language upon which the Judges requested comments did not
incorporate CBI's singular reference to ``Educational Stations,'' the
proposal retained the substance of the Petitioners' proposal.
In the Proposal soliciting comment on the proposal, in addition to
[[Page 31508]]
comments on the proposal generally, the Judges also sought comments on
certain specific issues. In particular, the Judges sought comment on
how unlicensed minimum fee ``Educational Stations,'' as that term would
be defined in Petitioners' proposal, have been reporting under the
current regulations. The Judges also asked whether any such entities
have ceased operations, as predicted by Petitioners and if so, how
many. If none ceased operations, the Judges asked whether the need
still exists for Petitioners' proposed amendment. The Judges also asked
whether Petitioners have, in the first instance, made their case
persuasively that the proposed amendment is warranted. If the change is
warranted, the Judges asked whether they should adopt (1) Petitioners'
preferred definition, which applies only to Educational Stations, or
(2) the broader, alternate definition.\8\
\8\ 79 FR at 25040.
Of the 24 comments the Judges reviewed, none opposed the specific
language included in the Proposal, although, as discussed below,
SoundExchange opposed adopting a more expansive exemption from the
census reporting requirements for noncommercial webcasters that are not
affiliated with an educational organization.
All-Campus Radio Network's (ACRN) comment is illustrative of those
that supported the proposal. Because it has no FCC license, ACRN cannot
qualify as a ``minimum fee broadcaster'' under 37 CFR 370.4(b)(3).\9\
ACRN is, however, a Noncommercial Educational Webcaster (NEW) as
defined in 37 CFR 380.21.\10\ As such, ACRN has a reporting waiver
under 37 CFR 380.23(c) and (g)(1), which authorizes payment to the
Collective of a $100 proxy fee in lieu of maintaining and delivering
ROUs. ACRN would like to continue to report as a NEW indefinitely.\11\
In the alternative, ACRN supports the proposal to change 37 CFR
370.4(b)(2) so that ACRN would qualify as a minimum fee
broadcaster.\12\ It views this option as less desirable, however.
\9\ Section 370.4(b)(3) states that a minimum fee broadcaster is
a nonsubscription service that meets the definition of a broadcaster
pursuant to Sec.  380.2(b) and the service's payments for eligible
transmissions do not exceed the annual minimum fee established for
licensees relying upon the statutory licenses set forth in 17 U.S.C.
112 and 114. At the time of the motion for clarification 37 CFR
380.2 defined a broadcaster as a type of Licensee that owns and
operates a terrestrial AM or FM radio station that is licensed by
\10\ Under Sec.  380.21, a NEW is a noncommercial webcaster (as
defined in 17 U.S.C. 114(f)(5)(E)(i)) that has obtained a compulsory
license, complies with all applicable provisions of the license, is
operated by or affiliated with and sanctioned by a primary or
secondary school, college or university or other degree-granting
educational institution, and is not a public broadcasting entity
qualified to receive funding from the CPB. 17 CFR 380.21. As part of
the supporting regulations for the Section 112 and 114 webcasting
licenses, Sec.  380.21, by its terms, expires at the end of each
licensing period (currently December 31, 2020). See 37 CFR
380.20(a). The most recent iteration of Sec.  380.21, which was
adopted after comments in the current rulemaking proceeding were
filed, includes an additional requirement that the noncommercial
webcaster take affirmative steps not to make total transmissions in
excess of 159,140 Aggregate Tuning Hours on any individual channel
or station in any month, if in any previous calendar year it has
made total transmissions in excess of 159,140 Aggregate Tuning Hours
on any individual channel or station in any month. 37 CFR 380.21
\11\ As part of the supporting regulations for the webcasting
licenses, the reporting waiver expires every five years, unless it
\12\ ACRN states that the proposed changes are ``warranted only
if the alternative to report under 380.23 were to not sunset
[sic].'' ACRN Comment at 3, emphasis in original. Read in the
context of the ACRN letter as a whole, it appears that ACRN meant
that the proposed changes would be warranted only if the alternative
to report under 380.23 were to sunset.
KBCU-FM, KBHU, KNHC, KSSU, KWSC-FM, and KXUL all generally
concurred with the position of ACRN. KUIW and Lasell College Radio,
which also support the proposal, state that they would probably have to
cease broadcasting if the reporting provision for NEWs were to expire
and they could not qualify as minimum fee broadcasters.\13\
\13\ KUIW Comment at 1-2. Lasell Comment at 1-2. Each commenter
recommends that the reporting requirements applicable to NEWs be
made permanent. Such a recommendation is beyond the scope of the
proposal upon which the Judges sought comment in the current
proceeding. As such, the Judges do not have adequate support in the
record to support adopting such a proposal.
CBI supports continuing the reporting requirements in Sec.  380.23,
which were negotiated as part of a settlement with SoundExchange,
because, according to CBI, those requirements are simpler to follow and
impose fewer obstacles than the rules with which non-NEWS must comply.
CBI Comment at 5. CBI states that it conducted a survey and determined
that fewer than 13% of non-FCC-licensed stations are currently able to
report actual total performance (ATP) data. According to CBI, fewer
than 18% of those stations reported that they would be able to find a
means to comply with full census ATP reporting should the requirements
in Sec.  380.23 be allowed to expire and the proposed regulations in
the Joint Petition not be adopted.\14\ Neither CBI nor any other
commenter provided data on any non-licensed entity that ceased
operation due to the ROU reporting requirement. That being said, the
great majority of commenters that are subject to the ROU reporting
requirement appear to be paying the $100 proxy fee in lieu of reporting
(an alternative that is now available through 2020). See Determination
(final), Determination of Royalty Rates and Terms for Ephemeral
Recording and Webcasting Digital Performance of Sound Recordings (Web-
IV), Docket No. 14-CRB-0001-WR (2016-2020) (Mar. 2, 2016).
\14\ Andrea Baker supports applying the Petitioner's preferred
definition of ``minimum fee broadcaster'' because, according to Ms.
Baker, the proposal is more likely to move users of sound recordings
away from reporting of sampled data. The proposal would in fact
allow more users to choose to report sampled data. Through 2020,
however, to the extent they qualify to pay the proxy fee in lieu of
reporting, the users that would benefit from the proposal are not
reporting any sound recording play data.
Not surprisingly, IBS also supports its Joint Petition. IBS adds
that it agrees with SoundExchange's position that NEWs with fewer than
55,000 aggregate tuning hours (ATH) per month should be permitted to
pay an annual $100 proxy fee in lieu of census reporting. IBS also
contends that NEWs with fewer than 15,914 ATH monthly should pay a $50
proxy fee and NEWS with fewer than 6,365 ATH monthly should pay a $20
proxy fee. IBS believes that each of these categories should be exempt
from the $500 annual minimum fee. Reply Comments of IBS at 1. Because
IBS made its suggestions in Reply Comments, the Judges were unable to
include them in the Proposal, and therefore have no basis upon which to
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Radio Music
License Committee (RMLC) advocate an exemption from all reporting
requirements for broadcasters that currently pay the minimum fee of
$500. They contend that many of these entities are already exempt from
reporting requirements as long as they pay the $100 annual proxy fee
(i.e., small broadcasters that stream no more than 27,777 aggregate
tuning hours (ATH) and noncommercial educational webcasters that stream
less than 55,000 annual ATH). Moreover, according to NAB, most of these
entities play ``mainstream'' music that larger broadcasters play so the
allocations of royalties paid by these entities could be made based on
playlist data collected from larger broadcasters. NAB/RMLC Comment at
According to National Public Radio, Inc. (NPR), the current
recordkeeping and reporting system is the result of a settlement
agreement between SoundExchange and the CPB. NPR estimates that about
402 stations operate
[[Page 31509]]
under the agreement. NPR Comment at 7. NPR notes that it aggregates the
reports of each of these stations and reports directly to SoundExchange
on behalf of all the stations. NPR states that it currently operates
under the settlement agreement with SoundExchange, and, as a result, it
is not subject to certain of the reporting and recordkeeping
requirements in the regulations. NPR believes, however, that the
regulations should be flexible to allow parties that are not parties to
agreements to be able to use the license in a manner that is not overly
burdensome. NPR Comment at 1-3.
SCAD Atlanta Radio \15\ is a NEW under 37 CFR 380.21. It is a web-
only, student-run station and does not have an FCC license so it cannot
qualify as a minimum fee broadcaster under 37 CFR 370.4(b)(3). As a
NEW, SCAD Atlanta pays the proxy fee in lieu of reporting, as permitted
under 37 CFR 380.23. It would like to continue to report that way and
therefore requests that the sunset provisions in the regulations be
removed. In the alternative, SCAD Atlanta supports the proposed change
to 37 CFR 370.4(b)(2), which would qualify SCAD Atlanta as a minimum
fee broadcaster if the NEW designation sunsets. SCAD Atlanta states
that if it lost the ability to report as a NEW and was forced to report
monthly census data, the station would face considerable hardship and
expense. SCAD Atlanta Comment at 2.
\15\ SCAD Atlanta states that the station is produced by
students at the Atlanta location of the Savannah College of Art and
Design. The Judges also received a substantially identical comment
from ``SCAD Radio,'' which states that the station is produced by
students at the Savannah location of the Savannah College of Art and
In its initial comment, SoundExchange stated that the Joint
Petition is moot through 2015 (and now presumably through 2020).
According to SoundExchange, pursuant to 37 CFR 380.23(g)(2), a NEW with
usage at a level covered by the minimum fee is currently permitted to
provide ROUs on a sample basis as contemplated by proposed Sec.
370.4(b)(2) and is even excused from reporting its ATH. SoundExchange
Comment at 3. SoundExchange notes that such services report play
frequency in lieu of reporting ATH or actual total performances.
SoundExchange states that the vast majority of NEWs are not even
required to provide sample ROUs. SoundExchange states that, pursuant to
37 CFR 380.23(g)(1), NEWs with the lowest intensity of usage may elect
to pay a proxy fee of $100 and forgo providing ROUs altogether.
According to SoundExchange, for 2013, 97% of NEWs elected this
reporting waiver and were not required to provide any ROUs. As a result
of the Web-IV Determination, Sec.  380.23(g)(1) and (2) remain in
effect through 2020, at which point the Judges will determine rates and
terms for the next rate period (2021-2025) (Web-V).
Nevertheless, SoundExchange does not oppose the Petitioners'
proposed definition of ``Minimum Fee Broadcaster'' for Sec.
370.4(b)(2). SoundExchange highlights certain technical errors in the
proposal (i.e., SoundExchange opines that there should be a comma
following the phrase ``officially sanctioned by'' in Sec.
370.4(b)(2)(ii) and the reference in proposed Sec.  370.4(b)(2)(iv)
should be Section 118(f) (rather than 118(g)).\16\ SoundExchange also
recommends changing the proposed term from ``Minimum Fee Broadcaster''
to ``Eligible Minimum Fee Webcaster'' (or the like) to more accurately
reflect the fact that certain of the services covered are not
broadcasters. SoundExchange Comment at n.2.\17\ According to
SoundExchange, adoption of this proposal ``seems like a reasonable
deviation from the important principle of census reporting.''
SoundExchange Comment at 4.
\16\ The Judges adopted these technical corrections in the final
\17\ The Judges believe that the term ``eligible minimum fee
webcaster'' more accurately reflects the fact that some of the
entities covered by the definition would not satisfy the applicable
definition of broadcaster and therefore accept SoundExchange's
suggestion in the adopted regulation.
SoundExchange does not support the broader alternative proposal to
include internet-only noncommercial webcasters that are not educational
webcasters (which are not currently covered by Sec.  380.23(g)(2)). For
such webcasters, if they are staffed by professionals or use modern
content management technology capable of readily generated ROUs on a
census basis, they should not be exempted from census reporting just
because they are low-intensity noncommercial users. SoundExchange does
not believe that the Petitioners have made the case for a broader
exemption. SoundExchange Comment at 4.
While SoundExchange is not opposed to the narrow proposed
definition of Minimum Fee Broadcaster in Sec.  370.4(b) (with the
technical corrections discussed above), SoundExchange notes that ``NEWs
would like to include in the notice and recordkeeping regulations the
outright reporting waiver and play frequency reporting provisions of
Section 380.23(g), but not the late fee for ROUs provided in Section
380.23(e) or the server log retention provisions of Section
380.23(i).'' SoundExchange Reply Comments at 7. SoundExchange does not
believe that NEWs should be given their requested ``special exemption''
in these regulations because, according to SoundExchange, ``their
concerns are addressed directly in the terms to which CBI agreed.''
SoundExchange Reply Comments at 8.
SoundExchange does not believe it is fair for NEWs to pick and
choose their favorite provisions from Sec.  380.23 that were negotiated
by CBI. SoundExchange notes that the agreement to settle the Web IV
proceeding as to NEWs on a basis that would generally extend the
relevant provisions of Sec.  380.23 moots the issues raised in the
Joint Petition through 2020. Anticipating the adoption of such
agreement, which the Judges adopted during the Web IV proceeding,
SoundExchange found no reason for the Judges to adopt the proposals in
the NPRM based on the Joint Petition. SoundExchange speculates that
under such a scenario, the Judges could revisit the question of
reporting by NEWs based on a fresh record in five years. Otherwise,
SoundExchange recommends that the Judges either adopt the equivalent of
all the relevant provisions of Sec.  380.23 (i.e., the proposed late
fee for ROUs and proposed recordkeeping provisions) or adopt only the
changes to the definition of Minimum Fee Broadcaster proposed in the
NPRM. SoundExchange Reply Comments at 9.
SoundExchange Settlement With CBI
In the context of the Web IV proceeding, the Judges were presented
with two settlements that bear on the reporting requirements at issue
in this rulemaking.\18\ In one settlement, SoundExchange and CBI
requested that the Judges adopt their agreement as a partial settlement
of rates and terms under Section 112(e) and 114 of the Copyright Act
(Act) for eligible nonsubscription transmissions by NEWs over the
internet, and related ephemeral recordings. In the Federal Register
document adopting the SoundExchange/CBI settlement, the Judges noted:
\18\ See 80 FR 58201 (Sept. 28, 2015) (adopting proposed
settlement between SoundExchange and CBI) and 80 FR 59588 (Oct. 2,
2015) (adopting proposed settlement between SoundExchange and NPR
and the CPB).
Commercial webcasters are required to make detailed, census
reports of all sound recordings they transmit. NEWs with limited
listenership may pay the Collective a proxy fee to avoid the burden
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reporting. . . . A NEW electing the reporting waiver in 37 CFR
380.23(g)(1) must pay a $100 annual proxy fee to the Collective.
Proposed Rule 37 CFR 380.22(a).\19\
\19\ 80 FR at 58201.
In adopting the SoundExchange/CBI Settlement, the Judges noted the
relevance of the Settlement to the current rulemaking proceeding:
qualify under the proposed Settlement to pay the proxy fee in lieu
of census reporting in the upcoming license period. Extension until
proceeding. The Judges shall address this issue along with a number
of other issues relating to Part 370 in a separate publication
focused directly on the May 2, 2014, Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking.\20\
\20\ 80 FR 58201, 58205 (Sept. 28, 2015).
In other words, although the SoundExchange/CBI settlement provided
a means for qualifying NEWs to pay a $100 proxy fee in lieu of census
reporting through December 31, 2020, it does not, as the current
proposal would, provide a permanent means for entities that meet the
proposed definition of noncommercial educational webcasters to pay the
proxy fee in lieu of census reporting. In light of the overwhelming
support in favor of such a reporting waiver and the lack of opposition,
the Judges find that adopting the proposed alternative for a permanent
exemption from census reporting requirements is beneficial and
Given their adoption of the proposed exemption, the Judges decline
to adopt a broader alternative proposed by Petitioners. Notwithstanding
the unique stature of NEWs as noncommercial entities with an
educational mission, the Judges do not believe extending the exemption
to other noncommercial webcasters would be consistent with the policy
intended to ease reporting obligations on NEWs. As discussed by some of
the commenters, NEWs are often student-operated stations. The students
generally perform station operations to supplement their academic
pursuits during a given academic term. As a rule, with semester and
summer breaks, the stations lack operational continuity.
Without a paid administrative staff and adequate financial and
technological support, census reporting would present a significant
challenge for those stations that could cause the educational
institution to discontinue the stations to avoid the administrative
burdens. Neither the students, the educational entity, nor the artists
would benefit from elimination of the campus stations. The Judges agree
with SoundExchange, however, that noncommercial noneducational
webcasters have not made the case that they face the same challenges.
Therefore, the Judges decline to extend the reporting requirement
exemption to noncommercial webcasters that do not have the requisite
affiliation with an educational institution.
SoundExchange contends that in light of the agreements
SoundExchange, CPB, CBI, and NPR reached during the Web IV proceeding,
which the Judges adopted, the current rulemaking is moot, at least
through 2020. While the Judges agree that many webcasters that are
eligible for either of the agreements will choose to pay the proxy fee
in lieu of reporting, each such agreement has conditions and
limitations that would not apply with respect to the proposal the
Judges adopt today. Moreover, by adopting the proposal in the Petition
as a permanent rule, the Judges provide certainty that, even if the
current agreements are not extended in subsequent rate periods,
eligible noncommercial educational webcasters will be able to avail
themselves of the reduced reporting requirements in Sec.  370.4,
regardless of whether they are licensed with the FCC. Such certainty is
sufficient justification for adopting the proposal.
2. Revise Sec.  370.4(a) and (b) to read as follows:
(b) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following
Aggregate Tuning Hours means the total hours of programming that a
audio radio service, new subscription service or business establishment
service has transmitted during the reporting period identified in
paragraph (d)(3) of this section to all listeners within the United
States over the relevant channels or stations, and from any archived
programs, that provide audio programming consisting, in whole or in
part, of eligible nonsubscription service, preexisting satellite
digital audio radio service, new subscription service or business
establishment service transmissions, less the actual running time of
any sound recordings for which the service has obtained direct licenses
apart from 17 U.S.C. 114(d)(2) or which do not require a license under
United States copyright law. For example, if a nonsubscription
transmission service transmitted one hour of programming to 10
simultaneous listeners, the nonsubscription transmission service's
Aggregate Tuning Hours would equal 10. If 3 minutes of that hour
nonsubscription transmission service's Aggregate Tuning Hours would
equal 9 hours and 30 minutes. If one listener listened to the
transmission of a nonsubscription transmission service for 10 hours
AM/FM Webcast means a transmission made by an entity that transmits
an AM/FM broadcast signal over a digital communications network such as
the Internet, regardless of whether the transmission is made by the
broadcaster that originates the AM/FM signal or by a third party,
provided that such transmission meets the applicable requirements of
the statutory license set forth in 17 U.S.C. 114(d)(2).
(i) Has a substantial business owning and operating one or more
(ii) Has obtained a compulsory license under 17 U.S.C. 112(e) and
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(iii) Complies with all applicable provisions of Sections 112(e)
and 114 and applicable regulations; and
(iv) Is not a noncommercial webcaster as defined in 17 U.S.C.
(i) Meets the definition of a broadcaster; or
such institution; and
(B) Is not a ``public broadcasting entity'' (as defined in 17
(C) Is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal
Minimum fee broadcaster means a nonsubscription service that meets
the definition of a broadcaster and the service's payments for eligible
Performance means each instance in which any portion of a sound
Play frequency means the number of times a sound recording is
[FR Doc. 2016-11746 Filed 5-18-16; 8:45 am]