Fees set, fight certain: broadcasters get no relief on streaming levy; decision irks Webcasters, record industry, too. (Top of the Week).(Brief Article)

The Librarian of Congress gave radio broadcasters no relief last week, leaving unchanged the royalty fees they must pay record companies for streaming their signals over the Internet. Pure-play Webcasters, by contrast, had their fees cut in half. Still, nobody seemed pleased with the decision; broadcasters said it spells doom for streaming.

After rejecting the recommendation of a panel of arbitration judges last February, Librarian James Billington was required to set up his own fees last week. Radio broadcasters and Internet-only Webcasters warned for four months that leaving the rate as-is would likely kill the Webcasting business, but Billington ruled that radio …