Lawmakers urge conditions on XM-Sirius deal

The Federal Communications Commission should impose conditions on Sirius Satellite Radio proposed $3.95 billion acquisition of rival XM Satellite Radio to protect consumers, said House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and Telecom Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA). They urged the FCC to take steps to protect consumers in connection with any decision to approve the merger. Such steps should include 1) allowing any manufacturer to sell consumers receivers that work with the merged company's satellite service and 2) adhering to pricing constraints they have already submitted to the agency. Paul Gallant, an analyst with Stanford Washington Research Group, said the lawmakers' letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin bodes well for the deal. "It's a good thing when two of the most powerful House Democrats are only talking conditions and not rejection, as some others in Congress are doing," Gallant said. "The conditions that Dingell and Markey represent appear relatively limited and wouldn't seem to be deal breakers," Gallant said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSN0145322920080501?feed...

* Text of Dingell/Markey letter
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.050108.FCC.XMRadio.pdf

* Democrats to FCC: Restrict XM-Sirius deal
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9933655-7.html?tag=nefd.top

* Top Democrats Want Sirius Conditions on XM Meld
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6556737.html?rssid=193

* XM-Sirius: We Want You to Do That Thing You Said You Would Do
http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2008/05/01/xm-sirius-we-want-you-to-do-the-th...