This page offers some specific information on the settlement. Here is the full text of the terms. The CBI site also offers a FAQ on the settlement. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THIS POINT! Educational stations that have webcast in the past MUST opt in before October 15, 2003. Forms to "opt-in" to the settlement are now available via this link.

Forms for calculating the amount to be paid are now available at the SoundExchange website. Additional information and links are available from the Collegeiate Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) site.

Retroactive Fees
The sound recording fees for webcasters became effective on October 28, 1998. Under the terms of this settlement, the fee structure is as follows for all webcasts from October 28, 1998 through December 31, 2003.

This is a simple interpretation of the settlement. If you have questions and are an educational facility, you may want to contact CBI or an attorney. Non-educational facilities should contact their trade organization or an attorney.

For comparison, these rates are regardless of audience size and FCC license status. If a settlement had not been reached, these fees could have been in the thousands, or some cases, tens of thousands of dollars!

2004 Fees

The settlement is based on calendar years, not academic years. Beginning December 1, 2004, the following terms have been agreed upon.

In order to qualify for the $250 rate, the school must have an enrollment of under 10,000, otherwise the fee is $500.

For comparison, below is a rate chart for stations that have an average of 200 listeners that don't opt in to the agreement.