XM/Sirius Merger closer to approval

**cigaretteman** · 07-18-2008, 01:08 PM

XM-Sirius Merger Gets Conditional Go-Ahead, Potential Deciding FCC Vote Will Consent If Companies Agree To Tougher Conditions - CBS News

**superdorf** · 07-18-2008, 01:08 PM

I will believe it when it happens.

**LindenCy** · 07-18-2008, 01:09 PM

Approve this thing for heaven's sake!

**brianhos** · 07-18-2008, 01:11 PM

Not sure how I feel about the 25% of their bandwidth for public interest and minority programming. I am PAYING for this service, keep that crap on the free air waves.

**keepngoal** · 07-18-2008, 01:14 PM

FCC commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, a Democrat, wants the companies to cap prices for six years and make one-quarter of their satellite capacity available for public interest and minority programming, among other conditions.

geez..... pols have balls.

-keep

**aeroclone** · 07-18-2008, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by brianhos

Not sure how I feel about the 25% of their bandwidth for public interest and minority programming. I am PAYING for this service, keep that crap on the free air waves.

I agree. As a paying customer for this service, shouldn't the company be offering content that their customers desire, not stuff that is forced upon them by government regulation? Oh well, just like cable, I guess I will just have a whole pile of channels that I will never ever listen to for any reason.

**superdorf** · 07-18-2008, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by brianhos

Not sure how I feel about the 25% of their bandwidth for public interest and minority programming. I am PAYING for this service, keep that crap on the free air waves.

This is to appease Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton... now why a company has to appease them I do not know... I think its silly.

If there is demand for this then Sirius/XM will put it on the air.

**dmclone** · 07-24-2008, 08:13 AM

Looks like it's getting even closer. Isn't this just typical?

make a voluntary contributions to the United States Treasury of approximately $17 million in the case of XM, and approximately $2 million in the case of SIRIUS.

XM and SIRIUS Confirm Discussions to Settle FCC Enforcement Matters

**illinoiscyclone** · 07-24-2008, 08:28 AM

of course, right when my subscription is about to lapse

**brianhos** · 07-24-2008, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by illinoiscyclone

of course, right when my subscription is about to lapse

Sign up now... tell them you are nervous and may wait, they will give out better deals.

**matmann22** · 07-24-2008, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by brianhos

Not sure how I feel about the 25% of their bandwidth for public interest and minority programming. I am PAYING for this service, keep that crap on the free air waves.

Can I get a refund of 25% of my monthly fee ?

**Cyclonepride** · 07-24-2008, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by dmclone

Looks like it's getting even closer. Isn't this just typical?

make a voluntary contributions to the United States Treasury of approximately $17 million in the case of XM, and approximately $2 million in the case of SIRIUS.

XM and SIRIUS Confirm Discussions to Settle FCC Enforcement Matters

Somehow I knew you'd have something to say about this

. Maybe it's dmclone's political pull that's becoming a factor.

**jbhtexas** · 07-24-2008, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by dmclone

make a voluntary contributions to the United States Treasury of approximately $17 million in the case of XM, and approximately $2 million in the case of SIRIUS.

This would be for settlement of FCC fines (or perhaps avoiding larger fines) against XM for installing a number of terrestrial repeaters in larger cities without FCC approval, and running other repeaters over their authorized power limits.

Both companies were also apparently selling those FM-modulating car units where the modulator was running well over its approved power limit, causing interference for other drivers around the offending car. The performance testing info for the radios that was sent to the FCC for type-acceptance was apparently quite different than how the radios actually performed. It's not clear whether this was a genuine mistake by the radio vendors or an intentional deception. Since the radios were marketed through XM and Sirius, they are on the hook for the fines. So far XM/Sirius have chosen to not (at least publically) pass the buck down to the radio manufacturers.

**TxCycloneFan** · 07-24-2008, 09:10 AM

Do we still need the FCC for anything?

**jbhtexas** · 07-24-2008, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by TxCycloneFan

Do we still need the FCC for anything?

The alternative being just letting the person who can put up the most powerful transmitter with the widest bandwidth take whatever part of the frequency spectrum that he wants???