NAB President David Rehr attempted to come to the rescue of fellow anti-merger organization C3SR in a recent letter to the Federal Communication Commission.Rehr particularly took offense to the notion that the FCC has reportedly elected not to enforce the interoperability requirement, or disregarded C3SR's claims of a lack of candor by Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.
"This position could not be more inaccurate," writes Rehr in a letter to the FCC's General Counsel.
The NAB questions whether Sirius-XM "can be relied upon to follow through on any promises they make with regard to the alleged consumer benefits of the proposed merger."
"If the merged entity cannot be relied upon to comply with these promises, grant of a merger based upon these commitments would be a sham," wrote Rehr.
The word "candor" is mentioned 13 times in the letter, usually accompanied by the words "lacked" or "lack of." One would guess that David Rehr is suggesting that Sirius-XM, lack, candor? I think we get it Rehr.
David Rehr still speaking the TRUTH and doing his JOB.
NAB President David Rehr just needs to stop his crying.It seems that hw has lost his luster in the last 400+ days and is just being a bluster.
You mean the NAB owned Anti-Merger Organization
Pot. Kettle. Black.
This was on Sirius buzz 2 days ago, old news.
Old David looks like he has aged a decade in the last 500 days.
Is that his cum face? Too late - the FCC already ruled agaist this clown.
lack of candor, was he really talking about himself?
David Rehr:
“It is has been reported to me that the Federal Communication Commission’s (“FCC” or “Commission”) General Counsel’s office believes that the concerns raised by the Consumer Coalition for Competition in Satellite Radio (“C3SR”) regarding enforcement of the interoperability requirement or the issue of candor of the proposed merging parties can be resolved without further investigation and without a clear and transparent process...."
ITS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!
So David Up-The-Rehr doesn't want any competition for his sponsors -- terrestrial radio?
What's new... yawn....
David Rehr plainly would not care were Sirius/XM truly to become a monopoly - they'd raise prices (that's what monopolists do, right?) and that would reduce demand for Satrad and thereby increase demand for terrestrial radio. OBVIOUSLY he's worried because THEY ARE competition for him and his ilk. He's worried because the merger creates a viable competitor to them. He's asking for NO competition - the death of Satrad. He's asking for the coward's way out. He's a loser. He represents losers who'd rather try to avoid competition and provide worse programming than face the competition and up the level and variety of programming. He is a loser - did I say - he IS a loser. Did I say, HE IS A LOSER????
Yes, folks, David Rehr is ONE BIG LOSER.
It really bothers me that these assholes spend all this time fighting against this merger when they could be spending the time fighting against the FCC's "indecency" rules, or, god forbid, pushing their industry to foster actual talent and content. It really says something about the state of radio when people can easily get radio for free, but would rather PAY to get it because normal radio sucks so much shit.
AC, when terrestrial radio stops the bullshit of having 20-minute commercial breaks, all of which feature the same goddamned stupid-ass commercials, then I might start listening. I used to listen to terrestrial radio to be entertained during my morning drive to work. Unfortunately, the talent began to suck crap and half the drive was taken up by Jared jewelers or Mervis Fucking Diamond Importers commercials. Do you really, honestly, believe that people want to hear this crap in "High Definition"? That's the best that radio could come up with? How about getting some musical diversity in your programming or getting some good talent on the radio?
Nope, let's inundate everyone with 20 minutes of pointless, shitty commercials in HD because that's obviously what people want to hear! They want to hear it so much that they're willing to turn that shit off and either pay for satellite radio or listen to their iPods. Let me put it this way...if I had to make a Sophie's choice between listening to regular radio and having my ears painfully cut off and my eardrums blown out...I'd pick the latter because your industry is so worthless now, I'd rather go through life completely deaf than listen to another minute of the absolute shit that your industry calls "content".
Anyone and everyone with a grievance, complaint or allegation is not just given consideration by this FCC, but a full fledged forum for their agendas. I have little doubt that Rehr, Georgetown, Congressional staffers, C3SR and others have been assigned their own offices and have been included in the FCC e-mail directory. Hell, maybe Dave-O even has a pass to the Executive lunchroom?
Send your e-mails to: David.Rehr@FCC.gov and don't be surprised if you don't get a delivery failure notice!
It shows what a complete moral pymy Rehr is when he maintains the outright lie - with a straight face- that C3SR is a legitimate organization.
Unfortunately, C3SR was busted for the sham that it is and it's paymasters unmasked months ago- why should the FCC take the word of this trash seriously?
From the look on his face, PCSTEL had to be on his knees servicing Rehr as the picture was taken.
Another day another bunch of ignorant posts from blind, ignorant fanboys. NAB President David Rehr and C3SR are dong their JOBS and looking out for the MAJORITY of citizens.
"candor"
until Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin or Nate smarten up, that enough is enough and do they do their jobs and start acting like CEO's with the companies coming first and leave their greed, arrogance, and desperate need to line their pockets at the door.
" the companies face a serious obstacle: Federal Communications Commission regulations that appear to specifically forbid a merger."
"The FCC's "prohibition" on two satellite-radio companies "ever merging" and its mandate that XM and Sirius produce interoperable radios."
"Martin said that while the FCC would look at any merger plan filed with the commission, there is a prohibition on one entity owning both of those licenses. He reminded reporters that a “pro-consolidation oriented panel of commissioners” already rejected that proposal in 2004."
"The proposed XM-Sirius merger is not in the interest of American consumers," said Dr. Mark Cooper, director of research for the Consumer Federation of America"
"Leaving one company to monopolize the satellite radio industry would result in higher prices and fewer choices -- with no foreseeable public benefit."
"A merger deal will reduce the number of channels and formats available, resulting in fewer cost-saving incentives and a dramatic drop in spending on talent and retail."
"Satellite radio subscriber growth is flat, the likely victim of a slowing U.S. economy and waning interest in the once-novel medium. Meanwhile cash is running dry. Last month, citing heavy debt costs, a tightening credit market and sluggish car sales, Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Wienkes slashed his stock price targets for the two companies, raising the prospects that there may be a financial black hole ahead for the combined company."
"It was suicide from the beginning and now, with both services merging their massive debts together to form - a bigger company with massive debt and cash flow problems."
Thanks Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin, thanks Nate Davis, seems everyone is doing their JOBS but you two. Keep pushing the mess, keep pushing the complete demise of satellite radio.
Dumb Capitalism: Sirius-XM
http://badamerican.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/dumb-capitalism-sirius-xm/
I thought Batman killed this guy...
WHY is everybody so obsessed with "consumer benefits" and whether the poor, vulnerable consumer might be harmed by the evil forces of satellite radio? This is a non issue. The consumer has complete control over the situation; if you don't wan't it, don't get it! If you do get it, and you don't like it, CANCEL it! If the service doesn't keep high standards of competitive pricing and creative content and programming, they will be out of business soon due to all the competition! The marketplace and the will of the people are the perfect system of checks and balances. All this GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION is UNNECESSARY!!! You are witnessing one of the most insane examples of government incompetence and tax payer waste since.......the war in Iraq. The NAB and all of these other propaganda special interest groups, non of which give a DAMN about the consumer - and only about their self serving agendas - should be shunned by the FCC. It won't happen in our lifetime; the FCC is more corrupt than they are! What a God Damn mess this country has become. Oh, I almost forgot; David Rear is a slimy. creepy crawly, beady eyed, slithering maggot that escaped from a pile of shit and by some miracle rose to a position of alleged prominence. He is what is wrong with everything in this society we live in; a phony, corrupt, ass kissing opportunist who's entire life is is a complete fraud. Shame on you and your sham association, you low life.
Anonymous Warrior,
WRONG yet again. The consumer, the citizens have every right to not let Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin use and abuse the privilege of using the United States radio spectrum. The FCC, National Association of Broadcasters, Congress, Senate, and special interest are the "system of checks and balances" thats REALITY and you must accept that. The GOVERNMENT and everyone else has everything to do with Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin's want of illegal and abuse of the US radio spectrum, doing something which could benefit a very small group while screwing the MAJORITY, thats the "self serving agendas" thats what is "corrupt".
NAB President and CEO, David K. Rehr is doing his JOB. The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association that advocates on behalf of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations and also broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Courts.
"The National Association of Broadcasters is a full-service trade association that promotes and protects the interests of radio and television broadcasters in Washington and around the world. NAB is the broadcaster's voice before Congress, federal agencies and the Courts. We also serve a growing number of associate and international broadcaster members.
NAB works to keep our members out front on policy issues, technology and management trends. Our staff provides ongoing and "late breaking" broadcast news, industry research and legal expertise. We give member stations the tools to compete, including a growing range of products and financial services. In addition, throughout this Web site, you'll find content exclusively for our members.
NAB's legislative success is the direct result of political involvement by local broadcasters, who help educate policymakers about the realities of radio and television. Their involvement is invaluable on the Radio and Television Boards, NAB working committees, in direct lobbying and through support of NABPAC, NAB's political action committee.
Our spring convention, known simply as "NAB," and our annual NAB Radio Show are the finest broadcast-related expositions in the world and welcome thousands of visitors each year from the U.S. and abroad. For state-of-the art technology, the brightest minds in the business and opportunities to network, our conventions are unparalleled.
NAB is proud of our accomplishments and proud of broadcasters' community service. We work hard to promote your service on Capitol Hill, at the White House and at the FCC. NAB wants to do as much for you, our member stations, as you do for your own communities. As a result, you'll find there is more to membership than ever before."
Gold star for NAB President and CEO, David K. Rehr for doing his JOB keeping the public and radio of the MAJORITY above greed, arrogant and failing satellite radio.
Good thing you always see the bright side ...
Wow did Matt Damon age badly.
Why is it when I see this guys picture it always reminds me of the " If this guys Mom and Dad got a divorce, does it mean they aren't brother and sister anymore" incest joke?
Anonymous coward, understand one thing; I don't have to accept your delusional view of reality, or the bogus system of checks and balances that you so blindly believe in. If anybody is abusing and screwing anybody, it is the FCC, the NAB, the Congress, the Senate, Clearchannel, the entire Bush Administration, and assholes like you who would post a piece of bullshit like you just wrote. If these companies are failing so miserably, and the MAJORITY nieither has satellite radio nor listens or pays for it, how is the Majority screwed. Less than 1% of the US population has satellite; I have never seen so many people so nervous and threatened by, in your words, "failing" companies. I think the reality that YOU must ACCEPT is that terrestrial radio feels the threat of competition, knows that people are thirsting for an alternative to free, bland, insufferably boring, mind numbing commercials radio. The NAB represents a product that no longer cares about the listener, no longer cares about the music, and is desperate because they know that people like myself, once exposed to satellite radio, aren't likely to rush back to somethind so inferior. Your propaganda laced, feel good diatribe about how sqeaky clean tha NAB is - absolute bullshit! I do agree with you that David Rehr is doing his job. His job, at any cost and with as much deception and corruption and disregard for money, morals and ethics is to delay this merger as long as possible. Zero stars for this "Employee of the Rehr".