Michael Meece, of the aptly named Meece Group LLC., held a telephone conversation with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin on Wednesday on behalf of Georgetown Partners. On the same day, Meece had another phone conversation with Commissioner McDowell's legal adviser. Both conversations were revealed in FCC filings [1, 2] made public today.
Meece, a former White House aide who once was a top contender to become a FCC Commissioner, also apparently has ties to Kevin Martin. Both Michael Meece and Kevin Martin serve on the board of the early-stage venture capital fund TDF.
Meece's services have also been retained by ICO Global Communication and Mobile Satellite Ventures, among others.
But it's the fact that Meece and Martin both serve on the board of TDF that raises the question of a conflict of interest. I'm no lawyer, nor am I familiar with any federal restrictions, but I feel that any business relationship between a lobbyist and the Chairman of the FCC should be put under scrutiny.
[TDF]
Thanks Gary!
One thing that concerns me about all of this. Perhaps Georgetown sought the services of Meece to raise this conflict issue. If the merger was voting along party lines (3-2) and Martin was forced to recuse himself, where would the decision go from there? What makes this even more unusual is that it is Georgetown that he is representing. If this merger fails to pass, Georgetown has 0% chance of getting anything.
This info needs to get to a major newpaperto expose all of this bullshit.
I have thought about this a lot. My kneejerk reaction was one of utter discust. Stepping back and looking at the big picture has made me rethink a little.
The first clue was an exparte filed this mornung by clear channel. The letter is basically a confession that terrestrial radio is in fact in competition with satellite radio:
"Moreover, of particular concern is what will happen to free radio’s ability to respond in times of disaster and emergency, should the merged company successfully cherry-pick programming, and siphon-off our audiences and our advertising base? XM and Sirius do not have a presence in the local markets like free radio does. Were the FCC to determine that the creation of a satellite goliath is in the public interest, it would be nothing more nor less than government intervention in favor of one company and one pay technology to the detriment of thousands of local broadcasters, free, over-the-air radio and the listening public. "
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520010855
That's as close to begging as I've seen.
The next clue we have is a conversation that was initiated by Meese on behalf of Georgetown. The conversation could have included such a phrase by Martin that he couldn't discuss the issue with him...an exparte would still have to be filed..
We then have the announcement of yet another merger deadline. In this lies the real telling clue. It states that Martin's assistants have drawn up the merger proposal. Ah-ha! There it is. This new stuff doesn't matter.
It looks to me as if information regarding that proposal was leaked. Hence the major offensive on the part of the opposition of late. My guess is they got nothing that they wanted..probably because Copps and Adelstein will reject the merger with ANY conditions, so continued pandering to them makes no sense as a 3-2 vote will be the end result no matter the proposal.
It is time for XM and Sirius to take legal action. This will show the inconsistacy of the current admin. of the FCC.
First reaction was concern, but on reflectiion the fact that Georgetown had to employ Meece suggests they have NOT gotten what they want from Martin yet. Its doubtful one phone call would persuade Martin to cave to Georgetown's extortion attempt -- after they have been trying for almostt one year.
Besides, there is still no way that Georgetown ever giets anything close to what they are asking. If the FCC were to grant it, then Sirius and XM would both back out of the merger. Either way Georgetown ends up with nothing. Mel has made that clear.
Really do not see the beef here. The contacts were documented and recored per the process and they were not doing anything illegal. The fact is this is how the system works, both for the NAB, Georgetown partners and SIRI/XM. I see there is no mention of the fact of who SIRI/XM hired and how much they are spreading around. Combined totals I believe are 1.3 million dollars with multiple firms. One of which was the former head of the RNC with close ties to the president. Now do you think this guy would have been hired without those credentials ? It should alos be mentioned that the person, Ed Gillespie, was also a registered lobbyist for Enron..
Check the www.fec.gov all of this information is available.
I support the merger and want them to be done with it already.
Hard working folks have money on both of these companies. Martin and Meese should be prosecuted and thrown in Jail. I'm tired of breaking my @ss....just to watch skunks like this get away with murder.
This may be good. If Martina and company approve the merger with the agreed to pre-existing restrictions, no conflict of interest. Georgetown may have shot themselves in the foot, again. Ouch! If Georgie get what it wants, they and Meese and Martin may be considered conspiritors. It could happen.
On behalf of Sirius and Xm I'm going to write down an offer for the amount of spectrum that Georgetown Partners will get. I think it is an extremely generous offer that they will find fair under the circumstances.
Ready?
Here it is:
0
.
Have a nice day.
The ones that should be put in jail are Meese and Georgetown for initiating this conflict. Obvously staged to mulipulate this merger. If it fails they get zip, does'nt make sense.
When you are dealing with crooked morons in the FCC,-You cannot write good business llike letters--Use BRUTE FORCE-TAKE OFF THE GLOVES and FIGHT LIKE HELL-FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE--SUGGEST COURT ACTION--EXPOSE THE BLACKMAILRS AT GEORGETOWN--EXPOSE THE BRIBES AT THE NAB--These are the only things that these stupid screwballs understands--If for some unknown reason they have not heard yet,--THE DOJ HAS PASSED THIS MERGER WITHOUT ANY CONCESSIONS.-THEY ARE THE BOSS.--TO THE FCC--DONT YOU DARE TRY TO GIVE MY AND OTHER SHAREHOLDERS PROPERTY AWAY --THE DOJ HAS SPOKEN.==MELL-KEEP FIGHTING--JUST REMEMBER THAT 90% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BEHIND YOU.---[THIS ENTIRE POST IS MY OPINION AND MY OPINIION ONLY]
When you are dealing with crooked morons in the FCC,-You cannot write good business llike letters--Use BRUTE FORCE-TAKE OFF THE GLOVES and FIGHT LIKE HELL-FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE--SUGGEST COURT ACTION--EXPOSE THE BLACKMAILRS AT GEORGETOWN--EXPOSE THE BRIBES AT THE NAB--These are the only things that these stupid screwballs understands--If for some unknown reason they have not heard yet,--THE DOJ HAS PASSED THIS MERGER WITHOUT ANY CONCESSIONS.-THEY ARE THE BOSS.--TO THE FCC--DONT YOU DARE TRY TO GIVE MY AND OTHER SHAREHOLDERS PROPERTY AWAY --THE DOJ HAS SPOKEN.==MELL-KEEP FIGHTING--JUST REMEMBER THAT 90% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BEHIND YOU.---[THIS ENTIRE POST IS MY OPINION AND MY OPINIION ONLY]
Clearly satellite radio must have huge potential, or there wouldn't be so much gerrymandering about it. The much celebrated delays in merger approval are actually serving to promote it, and thereby increase subscriber mass. Let the delays continue.
One tech question: if I have separate subcriptions for my car and home now, will I have to continue to have separate subscriptions after the merge (assuming it happens)? Or will the merger only really benefit those who have 1 sub? Contact me at spoofproof@verizon.net if you know.
I am thinking Martin does not want to have the FCC say yea or nay and have Sirius go after XM Subs. No way can it take this long to make up his mind it is a stall on his part and he is not going to allow a vote. Mel go to plan 2.
i think this is taking way too long too and why Georgetown gets 20+ meetings with the FCC is mind blowing--I do have to admit many of the FCC decisions have taken this long if not longer so i do think this is the way they do things
It is hillarious. You people see that Georgetown hired someone with ties to KMart and you get all in a tizzy.
My view: Georgetown is getting desparate. Do you think they would have gone out to hire someone with ties to KMart if they were already getting what they wanted? Of course not. KMart is sticking to his guns and GP is getting worried that they may not get the free racial handout that they were looking for.
I see this as a possitive, not a negative. Add to that the fact that KMart said that his staff has already drawn up proposals and he will be circulating them to other commissioners soon... If the proposals are drawn up, that means they wont be changing much.