Markey Pushes Tighter XM-Sirius Conditions
House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee chairman asks FCC to mandate that satellite-radio receivers also receive radio-station digital-radio broadcasts.
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/16/2008 10:53:00 AM
House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) upped the ante on conditions that he thinks the Federal Communications Commission has to apply if it decides to approve the XM Satellite Radio-Sirius Satellite Radio deal.
While Markey has already said that he thought the commission should mandate open receivers, he said in a letter to FCC chairman Kevin Martin that he should take "immediate steps" to enforce that mandate.
But he went further, saying that he now believes the FCC needs to mandate that the receivers also receive radio-station digital-radio broadcasts.
Markey’s letter to Martin came one day after National Public Radio similarly asked the FCC to condition any deal on mandating reception of its stations, as well.
Markey said a combined XM-Sirius would likely transition to more ad-supported fare, which could "affect the viability of free over-the-air radio" as it makes its own digital transition.
Markey also said he thought the two satellite-radio companies’ offering of a three-year moratorium on price hikes should be extended to six, and that a proposed 12-channel set-aside for noncommercial satellite programmers (not to be confused with the noncommercial NPR stations that could be accessed on the receivers) was insufficient, adding that the number should instead be some percentage of capacity so that advances in digital compression "do not diminish the impact of the set-aside."
Late last month, a trio of Democratic senators asked for similar conditions, including receivers that get terrestrial broadcasters’ HD-radio branded digital broadcasts, interoperable radios and as many as 50 channels set aside.
Martin had proposed approving the deal under various conditions, including a price-hike moratorium, interoperable radios and the 8% carve-out for noncommercial channels and other outside entities, which would be somewhat analogous to cable's set-asides for public, educational and government (PEG) channels and leased-access programmers.
One other commissioner reportedly also signed off on that deal, which leaves the chairman one vote short and calling on the other commissioners to put their cards on the table in terms of conditions and alternate proposals.
Currently, the FCC is thought to be split 2-2, with the chairman and Republican commissioner Robert McDowell said to be OK with the compromise, the two Democrats on the commission not convinced that the compromise conditions are sufficient and Republican Deborah Taylor Tate still weighing them.
Two weeks ago, three Republican legislators wrote Tate to ask her to oppose the merger. They were among 69 who had written a letter exactly one year before to express their opposition.
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OldGaDawg...
Just more of the same old B.S. as to where the NAB has paid politicians placing tighter restrictions on top of a company that is loosing monies and the NAB hoping to play out this merger as long as they can to kill it. The FCC needs to listen to as what those of us to whom pay for this service and not from these special interest groups wanting what they insist on having as a free-hand-out.
OldGaDawg - 7/18/2008 2:05:00 AM EDT -
Yo Eggerton, How about Markey has received 33000 bucks from the NAB for his support in delaying this merger? Conflict of interest. Should have been included in your article.
Brett C. - 7/16/2008 7:19:00 PM EDT -
Markey should have also advised thet he recieved 33K from NAB in one recent period. Markey, being on the NAB "Dole" is the worst of what Congress offers.
D. Tate - 7/16/2008 5:06:00 PM EDT -
Look...this is about a luxury item, a specialty product that individuals have the right to opt into. It is NOT a necessity by any means. I don't want 70% of the channels on my cable, and satellite tv, that I have to deal with skipping while channel surfing. broadcast to air is, always will be a mainstay method of audio and video delivery. Other media methods, are simply afraid that about 17-18 million subscribers of sat radio are going to strip them of their listenership. Come on, they cannot be afraid of a pay-to-listen scenario, unless they are so afraid that their content is that poor. People who listen to sat radio do so, because they are willing to pay for not listening to advertising, and have far more alternative, non-mainstream music to listen to. I subscribe to XM. I subscribe to Sirius, and work for a Sirius reseller. If I am forced to listen to commercial advertising on satellite radio, that I gladly pay for, I will expatriate this country quicker than anything. I agree with giving alternative broadcasting some bandwidth to play with. I think it's a good thing to have the option of expanding our awareness of our many diversified cultures. It's funny though, that those who are in greatest opposition to a merged satellite radio entity, are those who have a direct commercial, monetary interest. Nuff said.
David McS - 7/16/2008 4:58:00 PM EDT -
WHO ARE THIS CROOKS? LET THE MERGER HAPPEN.........
GEORGE GAVALI - 7/16/2008 4:20:00 PM EDT
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