While the Senate was holding a hearing about the Sirius-XM merger, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps was talking with David Rehr during the annual FCC Breakfast at NAB2007 on the same subject.
When asked about the merger's prospects, Copps pointed to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's comments, "Chairman Martin has already indicated it's a climb for him, well, it's a pretty steep climb for me."
Copps added that he would not prejudge the merger since it was currently before the commission.
Copps also said that there seemed to be quite the disconnect between the NAB's argument that broadcasters did not compete with satellite radio when it came to this merger, and the argument that it was "one big happy competitive family" when it came to seeking media ownership rule changes.
Copps may be the toughest on mergers of the five commissioners Ryan, but I am not certain he is totally against this one.
Radio Ink Excerpt -
Copps said, “I’m not the world’s largest fan of consolidation, but the world has changed a lot since I first joined the FCC in 2001. Is this one competitive market with radio, Internet iPods and all of that? It was just ten years ago that we said this should be a national service with two players in it. Now we’re just tens years down the pike…do we need to make a change at this point? These are the questions, and there will be more.” Tate took a more careful approach, saying only that she is keeping an open mind and, “reading everything I can get my hands on.”
http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=137583&pt=todaysnews
Put a gag order on this public offical. He should not be allowed to discuss this issue in a forum where only one opinion can be spoken and while this issue is under review by the DOJ.