FCC Chair Martin to Support Merger
Merger now requires approval of 2 of the remaining 4 commissioners to pass.
“As early as this week, Martin is expected to issue an order that the commission vote to approve the merger, which at least two of the remaining four commissioners must also agree to, the aides said.” […]
“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.” […]
Martin came to the decision after the companies agreed last week to several commitments intended to prevent the monopoly from raising programming prices and from stifling competition among radio makers, aides to the chairman said in an interview yesterday.
According to the Washington Post, Sirius/XM have conceded on many of the expected hot merger issues:
- A-la-carte capable radios for sale within 3 months of merger
- Interoperable XM/Sirius radios sold within a year
- 12 channels for “educational and public safety programming”
- 12 channels for minority groups
[via Washington Post]