Be Heard: Submit comments to the FCC on the Sirius-XM merger - Orbitcast

Be Heard: Submit comments to the FCC on the Sirius-XM merger

By Ryan Saghir on June 12, 2007 10:15 AM | 178 Comments | No TrackBacks

Submit comments to the FCCI've setup a "dogear" link throughout Orbitcast to give people an easy way to get to the FCC's electronic comment filing system. You'll see it in the upper-right corner (a screenshot is on the right for RSS/Email readers).

Just click, and enter in the number "07-57" under the "proceeding" area. Comments are due July 9th. 

Whether you're for, or against, the merger - you have the right to submit public comments to the FCC. Regardless on what my take on the merger is, I strongly believe in your right to voice your opinion.

Yes, the DOJ also plays a very significant part in this process, but this is a chance where you can actually - truly - be heard by government officials.

Now is the time to have your voice be heard.

[FCC ECFC Comment Form] 

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178 Comments

tim wallick | June 12, 2007 10:39 AM | Reply

only 1240 comments as of today, you fine folks need to get out and vote the real issue better audio/video content.

the full force of the public demand ,either way. needs to be heard...and the fcc needs to follow the direction issued to it by congress to do whats in the publics best interest

I hope the nab is happy with david rehr! as he has managed to up-set many very loyal audio/video users from many types of digital platforms.

radio is a artform not a broadcast system..

I have zero respect for the nab based on the direct efforts of the current leadership

? Schimshamity | June 12, 2007 10:42 AM | Reply

I wrote to the FCC this morning. Thanks ryan

? JayDee | June 12, 2007 11:25 AM | Reply

Awesome! Thanks for the link. Just sent my letter to the FCC vehemently opposing this stupid merger. Good times!

? MeatFarley | June 12, 2007 11:44 AM | Reply

I'm going to wait until the wackbaggers get bored with it or fall for another unconfirmed rumor so my submission does not risk getting mass deleted with the hundreds of stupid, grammatically retarded, cut and paste pleas those morons will flood the FCC with.

Mark Anderson | June 12, 2007 12:00 PM | Reply

I read many of the comments left for the FCC about the XM/Sirius merger. It's amazing how ill-informed many of those posters are.

I defy anyone to demonstrate how monopoly is in the best interest of the consumer. To say that a combined XM/Sirius provides more choice is ludicrous. The only one who benefits will be the mega-Sirius who will charge extra for "sports packages" just like the cable operators do. Why? Because you have no choice. Either pay and play, or unsubscribe.

I have yet to hear or read one good reason why this merger should proceed. Keep the status quo, allow Sirius to go bankrupt and then a terrestrial broadcaster can buy them at cents on the dollar.

m4 | June 12, 2007 12:57 PM | Reply

merger is approved:

pros:

1 prices cheaper than avail right now 12.95

2 all content for less than 25.90

3 subscribers w/ 2 cars where one has sirius factory installed and xm factory
installed will save via family plan price 6.99

4 all content available in all vehicles

5 more ethnic programming than available today

6 customers will be able to choose what to pay for and what not to pay for

7 can block channels like Howard stern

8 merged company will create synergies and save money, come to profit sooner

cons:

1. pricing may go up because it's the only satellite player (FCC should freeze prices for period)

2. some current channels may be replaced by others

3. some content possibly maybe killed completely (but that happens right now anyway)


if merger is not approved:

cons:

1 prices will be higher than 12.95 eventually (both will follow suit)

2 not as much content avail

3 content will be decided on what vehicle you purchase via exclusive factory installed satrad (although some will have dealer installed radios)

4 no ala carte pricing

5 customers will be forced to pay higher prices without choosing content; less choice

6 one or both companies may file for chapter 11

pros:

1 no channels will be replaced because of a merger

2 choose between 2 satellite players

3 will keep prices in check

? Ryan | June 12, 2007 1:06 PM | Reply

Mark, your comment confuses me, because XM isn't making a profit yet either. Yet you feel Sirius is going to go bankrupt, but XM won't.

? MeatFarley | June 12, 2007 2:05 PM | Reply

I defy anyone to demonstrate how monopoly is in the best interest of the consumer.

I defy you to define the term "monopoly" and how it applies to this situation.

xoxo | June 12, 2007 2:23 PM | Reply

Why? Because you have no choice. Either pay and play, or unsubscribe.

Using your logic, you have no choice right now. If you want NFL, you have to pay Sirius. If you want MLB, you have to pay XM. There's nothing different! Either pay and play, or unsubscribe.

Then again, if I'm an NFL fan who wants a choice, I can always watch the games on my SPRINT phone. Did you know you could watch the SuperBowl using SPRINT?

Your argument is has no merit.

? JB | June 12, 2007 2:54 PM | Reply

To answer your question Mark:

1) You will get access to ALL channels on ONE radio, instead of having to sacrifice content from one service to subscribe to the other. (If you want Howard and O&A, or MLB and NFL, or Oprah and Martha, you will have that choice.)

2) The content providers won't be able to play the two companies against each other to jack up contract rates anymore, and there will be NO MORE EXCLUSIVE CONTRACTS.

3) With tiered programming, you won't have to pay for what you don't want. If you don't want to pay Howard's $600 million salary, you won't have to anymore. If you don't care about MLB and its $650 million contract, then you won't have to pay for that either. You pay for what YOU want, not for what the company thinks you want.

4) Combined bandwidth. This might be several years away until they integrate the systems, but eventually they can combine duplicate stations (who needs two Top 40 stations?) to add more unique content.

5) Greater financial ability to improve the service. The combined company would be in a much stronger position to invest in improvements in coverage, receiver hardware, and new content. As two struggling separate companies, their weak financial positions severely hamper the budgets for R&D, new content, and radio subsidies. A stronger combined company could address these issues and make a more enticing product for current and would-be subscribers.


Like I've said before, there might be some decent reasons to fear the merger, but the "monopoly" theory is NOT one of them. Yes, they offer some benefits that others don't, but that does not make them a monopoly; rather, it makes them a LUXURY. You have the CHOICE to pay for the added value over free radio, internet radio, or iPods, and if it's not worth it, you don't subscribe.

After the merger, they will still have plenty of incentive to maintain and improve service quality. They will still have to gain millions more self-paying subscribers JUST TO SURVIVE. I can guarantee you that it will be harder for satellite radio to gain the next 10 million subscribers than it was for them to get the first 10 million subscribers, and it will be hard retain and add that many paying customers if they raise prices and cut service quality. If they try to screw customers, they will lose.

? MeatFarley | June 12, 2007 3:14 PM | Reply

NFL and MLB are not exclusive to SATRAD. You can listen to either on your terrestrial radio. Even NASCAR. The MLB, NFL, NHL, and NASCAR broadcasts on XM and Sirius are the same as the ones heard on AM/FM.

How can it be a monopoly when this "exclusive" content is freely available? When NASCAR moved to Sirius, I didn't quit XM or pay for a seperate Sirius sub, I just flipped over to my FM if I happened to be on the road while a race was on.

"Exclusive" content DOES NOT MAKE A MONOPOLY!

? realwx | June 12, 2007 6:02 PM | Reply

For people who are being too lazy to type in 07-57 in the docket:

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/websql/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.hts?ws_mode=proc_name&proc_id=07-57

Straight link.

? espnjason | June 12, 2007 10:37 PM | Reply

Quote:
only 1240 comments as of today

How do you view the public comments regarding the proposed merger on the FCC website? I can't find it.

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FCC do your duty and BLOCK this Sirius/xm "merger" MONOPOLY.

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