[Federal Register: November 29, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 231)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 60613] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr29no96-21] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Copyright Office 37 CFR Part 253 [Docket No. 96-8 CARP] Copyright Office; Cost of Living Adjustment for Performance of Musical Compositions by Colleges and Universities AGENCY: Copyright Office, Library of Congress. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress announces a cost of living adjustment of 3.0% in the royalty rates paid by colleges, universities, or other nonprofit educational institutions that are not affiliated with National Public Radio, for the use of copyrighted published nondramatic musical compositions. The cost of living adjustment is based on the change in the Consumer Price Index from October, 1995, to October, 1996. EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1997. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn J. Kretsinger, Acting General Counsel, or Tanya Sandros, Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel Specialist, at Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel, P.O. Box 70977, Southwest Station, Washington, D.C. 20024. Telephone: (202) 707-8380. Telefax: (202) 707-8366. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 22, 1992, the Copyright Royalty Tribunal published in the Federal Register final rules governing the terms and rates of copyright royalty payments with respect to certain uses by noncommercial educational broadcast stations of published nondramatic musical works and published pictorial, graphic and sculptural works. 57 FR 60957 (December 22, 1992). The Copyright Royalty Tribunal determined in that proceeding that colleges, universities, and other noneducational institutions which are not affiliated with National Public Radio would pay a royalty rate adjusted each year according to changes in the Consumer Price Index for the use of copyrighted published nondramatic musical compositions. 37 CFR 304.10. Accordingly, the Tribunal published a cost of living adjustment on December 1, 1993. 58 FR 63294 (December 1, 1993). On December 17, 1993, Congress abolished the Copyright Royalty Tribunal. Copyright Royalty Tribunal Reform Act of 1993 (CRT Reform Act), Pub. L. 103-198, 107 Stat. 2304. The CRT Reform Act directed the Library of Congress and the Copyright Office to adopt the rules and regulations of the CRT as found in chapter 3 of 37 CFR. 17 U.S.C. 802(d). The Office subsequently reissued the CRT regulations on December 22, 1993. 58 FR 67690 (December 22, 1993). In a later action, former 37 CFR 304.10, which calls for the annual cost of living adjustments to rates paid by college and university radio stations, was renumbered 37 CFR 253.10. 59 FR 23964 (May 9, 1994). Accordingly, the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress is hereby performing the annual cost of living adjustment pursuant to the 1992 public broadcasting rate adjustment proceeding. The change in the cost of living as determined by the Consumer Price Index (all consumers, all items) during the period from the most recent Index published before December 1, 1995, to the most recent Index published before December 1, 1996, was 3.0% (1995's figure was 153.7; 1996's figure is 158.3, based on 1982-1984=100 as a reference base). Rounding off to the nearest dollar, the adjustment in the royalty rate for the use of musical compositions in the repertory of ASCAP and BMI is $217, each, and $50 for the use of musical compositions in the repertory of SESAC. List of Subjects in 37 CFR Part 253 Copyright, Radio, Television. PART 253--USE OF CERTAIN COPYRIGHTED WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTING 1. The authority citation for Part 253 continues to read as follows: Authority: 17 U.S.C. 118, 801(b)(1) and 803. 2. 37 CFR 253.5 is amended by revising paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(3). Sec. 253.5 Performance of musical compositions by public broadcasting entities licensed to colleges and universities. * * * * * (c) * * * (1) For all such compositions in the repertory of ASCAP, $217 annually. (2) For all such compositions in the repertory of BMI, $217 annually. (3) For all such compositions in the repertory of SESAC, $50 annually. * * * * * Dated: November 22, 1996. Marybeth Peters, Register of Copyrights.