Contrary to more positive reports on Kevin Martin's appearance at the NAB Radio Show this morning, RadioInk is reporting that Martin has said that the FCC is considering fines against satellite radio.
Martin said the FCC's Enforcement Bureau is investigating claims that some of Sirius and XM's receivers were built to operate at levels that exceed permitted limits. Last year, both XM and Sirius halted shipments of receivers after it was learned that they were over the approved FM modulator limits.
Martin also said the FCC investigating claims that terrestrial repeaters owned by XM were operating beyond the allowed limits. XM said earlier this year that they are working with the FCC on the repeater issue (which they voluntarily lowered last year).
As a result, Martin said that the Commission is considering forfeitures against Sirius/XM for the series of violations.
(I'd personally like to hear the context in which Martin said this, because it could very well just be spin-central coming from the terrestrial radio camp. But hey, it worked, the RadioInk article made it onto the Drudge Report.)
[RadioInk]
I would be absolutely shocked if the FCC didn't fine them for this Ryan. In fact I'm surprised Sat Radio hasn't been fined already for the infractions. I doubt the fines would be significant and I seriously doubt the infractions would have anyimpact on the merger proposal. Thats all standard procedure stuff. Did Infinity ever get stopped ONCE from merging because of the multiple indecency fines for Howard's show? Not once and remember the Infinity fines were in the millions. No small potatos.
How about a fine for AM Stations that transmit Digital and wipe out stations next to them?
i am confused but are the recievers not made by other companies not sirius? would those companies not be on the hook since they were the ones who submitted to the FCC and have the manufacturing responsibility?
would be like sueing WABC because sony made a walkman too strong?
as for the repeaters, non story, happens all the time, they dont even bother to monitor the testicle radio transmitters if they did i am sure we would find the same problems.
We as Americans own the airwaves. The public trust licenses the airwaves to terrestrial stations to broadcast in our interest.
If we choose to use an FM-transmitter to broadcast content that we want to hear over the current FM-station, so be it. It's our right.