No Web fee delay for broadcasters

Federal copyright regulators have rejected an effort by over-the-air radio stations to avoid paying new royalty fees for broadcasting their programming online.

The United States Copyright Office ruled in 2000 that radio stations were subject to the same royalty payment provisions as Webcasters. Radio stations challenged the order in court and lost, and have appealed that ruling. Broadcasters later asked the copyright office to delay requiring them to start paying the royalties on Oct. 20, as ordinary Webcasters do.

The copyright office rejected the request Thursday, saying the broadcasters had shown little chance of success in their court challenge.