FCC Commissioner meets with Minority Media & Telecom Council
Friday, May 9, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Tags: FCC, Merger, Satellite Radio, Sirius, XM
FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate's office met with the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) on Wednesday, according to a recent filing.
Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate and Amy Blakenship, Legal Assistant to Commissioner Tate discussed the merger of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. even though MMTC has not filed comments on the merger.
This is where it gets interesting: MMTC said they do not have plans to file any commats this time "as the merger does not appear to have a direct, specific impact on minority ownership policy."
Regarding the proposal endorsed by Congressmen Towns (albeit, later retracted) to set aside channel space for leases for minority ownership, MMTC said that "the Commission should bear in mind the greater difficulty minorities face when leasing rather than purchasing assets. Therefore, the Commission should examine the specific terms of the proposal for longevity, uniqueness, and financial sustainability of the contemplated operation."
That's a very interesting take, and quite the departure from other minority groups who have presented in the past.
[View FCC Filing (PDF)]
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http://www.fcc.gov/transaction/timeline.html Dear Kevin, I believe that you have taken enough time to decide this simple merger. The DOJ has made it clear that it is not anti competitive and as a shareholder that voted for the merge (that was approved by an overwhelming majority) I believe that you owe us a decision post haste. Please reread your own rules for the 180 day time clock 415 days is not mentioned any where in the description. This is fucking nuts.
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | May 9, 2008 12:24 PM
Attention all minorities:
You are all very welcome to own as much of these companies as you wish. Right now! You don't need a merger or a decision from the FCC. Just go to your friendly local stock broker and tell him you want to purchase shares of SIRI and/or XMSR.
btw, It is just possible that there already is a significant minority ownership of the companies. It might be interesting to get a racial profile of the stockholders.
Posted by: Pinball Wizard | May 9, 2008 12:32 PM
i agree in the minority groups shouldn't be handed the channels, but the last thing the commission needs is to bear more things in mind. the more they get in the fcc head to think about, the longer this will drag on...as if this hasn't gone on entirely too long already.
i'm still very pro-merger, but i'm tired of coming on to orbicast and reading the same thing over and over and over, with different groups named in places. i'm done with the looking for updates on here. i'll wait for it to be a headline on cnn.com or msn.com or where ever the story eventually finds it's way and somehow comes into vision.
Posted by: jckmyrhffr | May 9, 2008 12:46 PM
Just say "NO" to the merger. I don't want to share my salary with Oprah. Oh wait, we are already stinking rich thanks to dumb shareholders that keep backing up that truck.... it has been backing up for one year now.... LOL!!!!!
Posted by: "Howard Stern" | May 9, 2008 12:57 PM
Just say "NO" to the merger. I don't want to share my salary with Oprah. Oh wait, we are already stinking rich thanks to dumb shareholders that keep backing up that truck.... it has been backing up for one year now.... LOL!!!!!
Posted by: "Howard Stern" | May 9, 2008 12:58 PM
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Over 416 days now.
Posted by: Flap Jackson | May 9, 2008 1:42 PM
Looky heea, Mider Mardin. I gots to ax u a quession u unerstan. I wants me some satellite radio and shit. I aint got no money but me thinks it be only rightchuss if u hand me over a big chunk ov dat bad boy. Peeps dont be payin for see dees no more. Muzik sposed two bee free y'all. Now hand over my free shit or I be discrimanatdead against and you honkeys be gettin a vizit from Jessie and Al. I new yood see thangs my wey. Good day, suckas
Posted by: Annonymous Warrior | May 9, 2008 2:15 PM
when they say > what they mean is that they can not flip them for a profit to non mimorities right away as is usually done with these minority spectrum deals that the FCC blesses to these connected con artists that in no way benifit the minority community
Posted by: noname | May 9, 2008 3:19 PM
I would like a House like Greg Brockwell but i cannot afford to heat it so i need help with both. He makes more money than i do so it is only right he gives me some.
If he does not want to help me i may be forced to Sue Sirius like he did.
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | May 9, 2008 9:10 PM