for whom the bell tolls.

It tolls for webcasters. From jwz’s DNA Lounge Sequencing:

Well, you may have heard that the Librarian of Congress released the final ruling on the additional webcasting rates: they are half of what CARP proposed, but still high enough that they will put nearly every webcaster out of business, since the new fees will be way more than any of them make. And certainly more than we make here, since we don’t make a dime on our webcasts. Buy a t-shirt, won’t you?

I’ve updated my Webcasting Legality page. Other good summaries of this mess are at Save Internet Radio and SomaFM.

As far as I can tell, the only “appeal process” remaining is to write your representatives and get Congress to change the existing law. Save Internet Radio has links and suggested messages.

Also: Save our Streams.