The potential deciding vote in the U.S. government’s review of the
$3.1 billion merger between satellite radio companies told The
Associated Press he will vote in favor of the deal if the companies
agree to tougher conditions.
So far, two of the five members of
the Federal Communications Commission have voted to approve Sirius
Satellite Radio Inc.’s buyout of rival XM [...]

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From CNN Money:
Federal Communications Commission Chairman
Kevin
Martin needs to convince one more commissioner on the five-member body to sign
off on his recommendation that a pending merger between XM Satellite Radio
Holdings Inc. (XMSR) and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (SIRI) be approved.
Republican Commissioner
Robert McDowell has voted with Martin to approve the
merger with conditions, such as a [...]

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Richard Blumenthal, attorney general for the state of Connecticut and 18 other Attorney Generals filed a letter with the FCC a few days ago. They mention that Satellite Radio is not in direct competition with Terrestrial Radio or the iPod but they are concerned about one company controlling the whole spectrum.
They go on to write [...]

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Merrill Lynch’s Glen Campbell this morning raised his rating on Sirius Satellite Radio to Buy from Hold, while slightly trimming his price target to $2.70 from $2.80. Campbell says he expect “imminent approval” from the FCC for its pending merger with XM Satellite Radio. Campbell says the upgrade reflects the recent decline in the stock [...]

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Via Bloomberg.com
Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. bid to buy XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. may depend on a regulator who says she sometimes struggles to find a balance between the needs of consumers and industry.
Deborah Taylor Tate, one of three Republicans on the five- member Federal Communications Commission, may be the swing vote as the agency [...]

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Finally, Two years later. We will have a decision in as little as three weeks.
You can see it here http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/circ_items.cgi (bottom of page)
06/17/2008 MB 07-57 XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc. to Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. MO&O/R&O.
When an item hits [...]

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In accordance with Section 1.1206 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206,and the Commission’s Public Notice dated March 29, 2007 (DA 07-1435), thisletter notifies the Commission that on June 16, 2008, Mel Karmazin, ChiefExecutive Officer of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (“Sirius”), and CommissionerJonathan Adelstein discussed pending issues raised in recent filings in the above [...]

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Programming.
1. A La Carte Programming: The combined company will offer the following a la
carte programming options:
• 50 Channels will be available for $6.99 a month and will allow consumers
to choose either 50 Sirius channels from approximately 100 Sirius
channels or 50 XM channels from approximately 100 XM channels.
Additional channels can be added for 25 cents each, [...]

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Give the National Association of Broadcasters press release a quick read.
They are not very happy about the news today.
They sound like they might need their mommys to go and cry to.
Here is the link

“Given
their systematic breaking of virtually every rule set forth by the FCC
[...]

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All we will be waiting on is the other 4 commissioners.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080616/ap_on_go_ot/fcc_xm_sirius

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