Chabot too "old school" for Internet radio

Rep. Steve Chabot may have requested today's hearing in the House Small Business Committee on the plight of Internet radio (pictured at left with Cincinnati Public Radio president and general manager Richard Eiswerth) - but don't mistake his interest.

Although he pointed out in his opening statement that the number of Internet radio listeners has increased in the last five years from 20 million to 29 million – Chabot himself isn't among those jumping on the webcasting wagon.

Asked after today's hearing if he has personally ever listened to an Internet radio station, Chabot said he prefers to listen to the old-fashioned radio on his old-fashioned 1993 Buick.

"I'm pretty old school in my entertainment," the Westwood Republican said, flashing a sheepish smile.

The number of people listening to Internet radio stations is expected to double by 2010. By 2020, industry experts predict that more than 200 million people will listen to internet radio.

So … Chabot, a self-proclaimed Jethro Tull fan, still has time to catch on.

---

Watch clips from the hearing on YouTube.com HERE. Or, read The Enquirer's story HERE. A longer version will be in tomorrow's paper.