Bill would force satellite radio units to go digital

The Federal Communications Commission is asking for public comment on whether to require satellite radio receivers to pick up digital radio signals. But Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) said the answer should be yes, and he's not waiting for the FCC to make the call. Markey's "Radio All Digital Channel Receiver Act" (H.R. 7157) would mandate that devices designed to receive both the new merged Sirius XM Radio service and terrestrial AM/FM radio be able to receive digital radio too. Markey's bill is co-sponsored by an interesting and bipartisan bunch of House members, including three staunch Clear Channel supporters, Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), Greg Walden (R-OR), and Lee Terry (R-NE).