Post A Reply
my profile
|
directory
login
|
search
|
faq
|
forum home
»
Noncompliance
»
Movie & Music Forums
»
Music Discussion
»
XM Radio
» Post A Reply
Post A Reply
Login Name:
Password:
Message Icon:
Message:
HTML is enabled.
UBB Code™ is enabled.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Klaus: [QB] [b]FCC Chair backs approval of Sirius-XM merger[/b] Monday, June 16, 2008 at 4:36 AM Tags: FCC, Kevin Martin, Merger, Satellite Radio, Sirius, XM Kevin MartinFCC Chairman Kevin Martin is recommending the approval of the merger between Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., according to reports. Aides to Martin told The Washington Post that the FCC chief decided to give his support after Sirius-XM agreed last week to concessions intended to prevent the new company from raising prices or stifling competition. Martin is expected to issue an order to approve the merger - as early as Monday, according to The Wall Street Journal - setting the stage for a final vote which could occur any time after his recommendation is circulated. "As I have indicated before, this is an unusual situation," Martin said in a statement. "I am recommending that with the voluntary commitments [Sirius and XM] have offered, on balance, this transaction would be in the public interest." FCC officials said that XM and Sirius voluntarily agreed to all of Kevin Martin's terms, many of which the companies had originally suggested. The concessions the companies agreed to are: * A three-year freeze on prices and packages that include programs from both services. * "A La Carte" programming to be available within 3-months after close of the deal. * Open Device Access, providing technology standards to allow for any device manufacturer to make satellite radios. * Interoperable radios to be available within one-year of the merger. * Set aside 8% of total combined spectrum (12-channels each) for noncommercial, educational and public safety programming - for those who have "not been traditionally represented" in radio, according to the Martin. The details on how this system would work have yet to be worked out, according to the Associated Press. The merger also is expected to allow the company to begin servicing Puerto Rico, where neither currently operates. Thanks to everyone who sent this in! UPDATE: Noticeably absent from the agreed concessions are iBiquity's proposal to require HD Radios be built-in to satellite radios, and Georgetown Partners' proposal to take 20% of Sirius-XM broadcast infrastructure off their hands. And that's a good thing. [/QB][/QUOTE]
Instant Graemlins
Instant UBB Code™
What is UBB Code™?
Options
Disable Graemlins in this post.
*** Click here to review this topic. ***
Contact Us
|
Noncompliance.com
Noncompliance Copyright 2005
Powered by
Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2