Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) has accused Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. chief executive Mel Karmazin of providing misleading testimony to Congress, according to the New York Post.Brownback yesterday sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) asking that redacted portions of a May 27th letter from C3SR be released to the public.
According to The Post, Brownback is concerned that Karmazin wasn't being candid about the companies' efforts to make and market "interoperable" receivers in his testimony to Congress.
"I am very troubled by the notion that Congress may have been misled in its prior hearings on this merger," wrote Brownback in reference to Karmazin
In addition to firing back at C3SR's claims, a spokesman for Sirius-XM said: "There is no contradiction, and Sirius' testimony was completely accurate."
"[This] is another example of our broadcast competitors' willingness to say and do anything to try to stop this merger," the spokesman told the The Post.
[New York Post]
'May Have"?? He did/has and will mislead!!
brownback looks super sexy in that pic. oh baby.
I love it! These are exactly the signs we have been waiting for that signal the completion of this merger. The desperation being exhibited by the NAB and their paid for politicians/surrogates is getting me very excited about, "FCC APPROVES SIRIUS/XM MERGER".
I agree. What is happening here is that you have a phony accusation (i.e., slander) being made by a phony "public interest" group (C3SR) and a US Senator parroting the lie since he's paid off by the NAB. The Senator would do well to be "troubled "by other matters, like his rip-off farm subsiidy policy and our returning soldiers getting shafted. Goddamnded jerk.
God must have told Sam Brownback to oppose this merger. Competition is imporant and has been for the 3000 years that earth was around and the universe encircled us.
Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve right? And oh yeah, F- the parkinsons patients, every zygote is important, unless they grow up to actually think instead of attending the megachurch or being annointed with oil in your office.
Fundamentalist Christian zealots should have no say in Sirius / XM.
Senator Brownback is a despicable character. Mel Karmazin should sue him .
i think Bareback's hairdresser misled him about the quality of his haircut. He could have got a nicer cut with a lawnmower and garden shears.
Also, he'd definitely look better with some lipstick. Give him more street cred.
This is despicable. I shouldn't be surprised that anything revolving around big $$$ in this country will try to be controlled by some lame corrupt senator who has his hands in the pockets of the broadcast industry.
This reminds me of those backroom deals made in congress that make sure that everyones back is scratched. Apparently Sirius/XM hasn't scratched the right backs here or this deal would have been approved a year ago. It makes me sick thinking about how these slime balls operate.
radio fans should sue mel for ruining terrestrial and now possibly sattalite radio.
When consumers vastly want the consumation of the merger and the government doesn't allow it... this poses a question.
Does the government now dictate WHO does WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, AND HOW, I say again, HOW?
Is the FCC acting in terms of Government by the people and for the people, or are they acting Government by the Government and for the Government?
I'm not postulating any particular scenario here, but there are some seriously harmful overtones being conveyed by the FCC, their reponse to this legitate business transaction, and the FCC's lack of guidance and initiative.
This is scary business! APPROVE THIS MERGER, NOW!
forgot
ron and fez noon to three
"may have misled" Mel is and has been flat out lying. More and more elected officials like the great Senator from Kansas Sam Brownback are starting to see the BS Mel is spreading. It won't take long till the DOJ rescinds it's flawed ruling. The FACTS are clear both Sirius and xm agreed to the no "merge" clause to gain their FCC - Commercial Radio Operator Licenses and Mel knew back in 2006 when he first opened his mouth that a "merge" would be impossible because of regulations keeping the industry pro-consumer. Now Mel expects consumer choice, and direct competition to take a back seat to his ability to cash in on a industry with a failing business plan and even worse management teams. Both sirius and xm also refused to comply with an FCC requirement to manufacture consumer-friendly interoperable radios. Turning around this refusal as a lame reason why they want to "merge" MONOPOLY
NO! to "merger"
NO! to MONOPOLY
and now thanks to Mel
HEAVY FINES for lying to congress
More elected officials to add to the NO! "merge" MONOPOLY list:
Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) Olympia Snowe (R-ME) Senator Bryon Dorgan (D-ND) Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), 11 state attorney generals
"No matter how you slice it, dice it or package it, the merger of XM and Sirius would establish a monopoly, which are typically characterized by a lack of economic competition for the good or service that they provide, as well as a lack of viable substitute goods," J. Gregory Sidak former Deputy General Counsel for the FCC.
How do you like my Donald Trump impression?
No to merger--no to FM Zombies Jon Zellner and Steve Kingston.
Killing the merger will most likely rid XM of these heat seeking FM hacks who only idea is selling FM radio.
Concerned American?,
Not only are you "Concerned" but you like many other satradio fanboys are confused.
Just because a minority of consumers don't like choice, like dealing with monopolies, and want to pay more for less, doesn't mean the government is not allowing the will of THE people, not a small confused minority of people which won't understand the problems a "merge" MONOPOLY will cause till it's too late.
The FCC's is charged with regulating all non-Federal Government use of the radio spectrum (including radio and television broadcasting), and all interstate telecommunications (wire, satellite and cable) as well as all international communications that originate or terminate in the United States. It is an important factor in US telecommunication policy. The FCC took over wire communication regulation from the Interstate Commerce Commission. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.
Look we all like satradio but there is NOTHING pro-consumer about a "merge" in the satradio industry with one company controlling everything. Right now we have direct competition keeping content, talent and quality up, while keeping price down. Right now we have freedom of choice, all things which will be taken away with "merge" along with the health of the satradio industry
I have yet to talk to a customer of either company that is not a shareholder and supports this merger. If you stand to make money off it then you're all for it but the fact is, it reduces competition in the SDARS industry and may very well be the death of it. I fucking hate Brownback but I support him here.
Notice how the nab basher that always supports Nab,C3SR and all the senitors who suddenly come in against this merger, -always signs his name --Anonymous Coward.
That little chicken s-it nab plant is to much of a coward to even sign his own name. So obvious he is a nab employee.. Also with all these AG and Senators suddenly comeing forward and voting against the merger, we can see that NAB has been greasing their palms with green again. Hey NAB--What your doing is called PAYOLA-.
HEAVY
Well,
The merits of competition are not up to the FCC.
This is a great example of government acting to promote their own agenda that has nothing to do with helping citizens in this country. It is merely politicians, many of which could never make it in the business world, which is why they are politicians and "public servants", interupting a natural business cycle in an attempt to lines its pockets. In effect, they are not only hurting the broader economy, but are sending a message to any aspiring entrepreneur. That message is, "if you want to innovate, if you have a dream and can acquire the resources to make it happens, watch out.... because we can CRUSH you".
The truth is, the consumer who adopts satellite radio is much, much better off now that prior to satellite radio. The array of choice is astounding. Content and choice is what will continue to grow the industry over the years, if they can survive.
Slashing consumer options and raising prices is NOT a way to grow a fledgling company. And Mel Karmazin knows this, along with Gary Parsons.
The government is expected to act as expediently as possible. Instead they are dragging their feet. They need to make a decision. YES. or NO. These businesses need to move on one way of the other. Right now they are in gridlock.
The truth is, the FCC could stall another 2 years, and there would probably be another handful of senators touting the demerits of the merger.
DONT FORGET TO VOTE IN THE POLL ON THE MAIN PAGE OF THIS SITE!
BAN THE NAB TROLL AND RESTORE ORBITCAST TO IT'S GLORY!
BAN THE TROLL TODAY!
FM was dead long before Mel got his hands on the corpse. i'm sure he helped it along to it's demise as all higher-ups do because they care more about the money than the quality. I am not a share holder but I am pro merger if it keeps Satellite radio alive so pfreaks theory is not accurate and quite general. I want good music and entertaining talk and it doesn't exist on Testicular radio.
So any fellow sub who is against the "merge" has magical affiliation with NAB and C3SR? Come on blind ignorant staradio fanboy is that the best you can do? Of course it is since blind, ignorant satradio fanboys don't think, yet only repeat what others say.
Also the REAL " little chicken s-it" is a poster like yourself who while not only is a blind, ignorant satradio fanboy, but also takes shots at people anonymously because their opinion doesn't match that of the small confused minority of blind, ignorant satradio fanboys, all jacked up on the kool-aid.
The fine elected officials are not coming forward due to NAB influence, they are coming forward doing their jobs, being the voices of their citizens. Hey Sirius/xm-- What your desperate to do is called MONOPOLY and a cash grab for management before your actions implode the entire satradio industry. Neither of which is pro-consumer.
Education before blind, ignorant, cheerleaders.
I voted for banning anonymous cowards! Silly NAB trolls should get their own forums and circle jerk there!
Brownback is a religious kook. Nobody takes him seriously.
Gray,
But the argument for the merger is that you can get everything SDARS offers elsewhere, thus the merger does not create a monopoly. You seem to be saying that's not the case, you can only get the content through XM/Sirius. If that's true then XM/Sirius do not compete with AM/FM/iPod/Internet and there is no way a merger should be allowed. I know my statement was general but it was in response to Concerned American's generalization that everyone wants this merger. I haven't found that in anyone I speak to that is a current sub of either company.
And to Concerned, the government isn't the one that spent way to much money acquiring content that, it turns out, no one cares about. They didn't give Hoo Hoo a billion dollars or MLB $650 million. Nor did they pay way the fuck to much for NASCAR or the NFL or any of the rest of it. The government didn't dig this hole so stop trying to get them to bail both companies out of it. I love SDARS but I'm happy to have 1 or both companies go bust. They'll be others to replace them and maybe they will show some fiscal restraint.
Concened American?
Your are still confused.
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/aboutfcc.html
The FCC’s staff is organized by function. There are seven operating Bureaus and ten staff Offices.
The Enforcement Bureau (EB) enforces the Communications Act and the FCC’s rules. The Enforcement Bureau protects consumers, fosters efficient use of the spectrum, furthers public safety, and promotes competition.
The Office of Communication Business Opportunities promotes competition and innovation in the provision and ownership of telecommunications and information services by supporting opportunities for small, women, and minority-owned communications businesses.
How is the FCC's actions of letting two satradio companies "merge" help citizens in this country?
How is this true? "the consumer who adopts satellite radio is much, much better off now that prior to satellite radio." Are all those without satradio not better off?
"Slashing consumer options and raising prices is" EXACTLY what the "merge" will do. There will no longer be choice between two corporations, content and talent will be halved, and there for even if the price remains the same we will be paying more for less.
Concened American? Your are still confused. Layoff the kool-aid and think for yourself instead of repeating what satradio lobbying tells you.
Again, we have a case where the friends you keep says everything you need to know about what is being said.
Not only is Sam Brownback a living and walking self-parody of a blowhard senator, but look at where his screed was published -- Rupert Murdoch's dead-fish-get-embarrased-when-wrapped-in-it NEW YORK POST.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I was ambivalent when the merger was announced, but the more that cretins like Brownback and the NAB squawk, the more I am convinced it's a good idea, simply because if they hate it so much it HAS to be good!
DONT FORGET TO VOTE IN THE POLL ON THE MAIN PAGE OF THIS SITE!
BAN THE NAB TROLL AND RESTORE ORBITCAST TO IT'S GLORY!
BAN THE TROLL TODAY!
Posted by: Anonymous Coward aka Max aka Maxm | June 11, 2008 2:02 PM
Max, Maxm,
There you go again with your ignorance and desperate need to silence anyone who thinks different than you. Orbitcast is more than fine the way it is, better yet Ryan should introduce a way to vote on each post. You'd be exactly where you usually are with your posts, on the bottom.
The death of Sat Radio will happen if the merger goes thru. Both companies will survive if they are separate. Nobody is saying that there will not be bumps in the road, but they both will make it, period.
Coward,
I've thought for myself long and hard. And I see two companies that are in compliance with the law, but the government continues to chase its tail like an overweight puppy dog, tripping on itself cause it's so fat.
Everyone has benefited with the advances in media distribution. The consumer has benefited enormously, they have a wide array of options. And the DOJ has noted this, and they have endorsed the merger.
The lobbying isn't coming from the SATRAD side of the park, it's all the lobbyists supported by NAB and politicians trying to hang on to their trousers that continue to advocate AGAINST competition to help their terrestrial buddies.
I voted for banning anonymous cowards! Silly NAB trolls should get their own forums and circle jerk there!
Posted by: Mike | June 11, 2008 2:15 PM
Real educated post Mike, thanks for making Orbitcast a better place, you and Max/Maxm/Anonymous Coward should be very proud of yourselves. PS Mike it's painfully obvious your vote is for rude, crude, ignorance
"And to Concerned, the government isn't the one that spent way to much money acquiring content that, it turns out, no one cares about. They didn't give Hoo Hoo a billion dollars or MLB $650 million. Nor did they pay way the fuck to much for NASCAR or the NFL or any of the rest of it. The government didn't dig this hole so stop trying to get them to bail both companies out of it. I love SDARS but I'm happy to have 1 or both companies go bust. They'll be others to replace them and maybe they will show some fiscal restraint."
Goods points pfreak, I agree!
pfreak is 100% correct.
Concerned American?,
If this is correct then your still confused. "'I've thought for myself long and hard. And I see two companies that are in compliance with the law," Neither company is in compliance with the law, both have refused to honor agreements they made to use the public radio spectrum for their commercial use. Two of those FCC mandates, that Sirius and xm have ignored have been brought up in this thread. They cannot be "in compliance with the law," yet refuse to comply with the law" You are still confused.
There you go again with making things up "Everyone has benefited with the advances in media distribution." Everyone? really? You are still confused, and making things up.
The DOJ's decision on satradio "merge" is flawed at best. You are still confused, and making things up.
The lobbying isn't coming from the SATRAD side of the park, Satradio isn't lobbying? hmmmmm better learn the truth before making yourself look even worse....
Sirius, XM Hire High-Profile Lobbyists
Satellite Radio Companies Turn To Quinn, Gillespie & Associates To Persuade Congress On Merger http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/06/business/main2891621.shtml
Update: Sirius actually spent $1.4 million on 2007 lobbying
http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/update-sirius-actually-spent-14-million-on-2007-lobbying.html
XM Spent $1.2 Million Lobbying for Merger
http://bearingdriftohio.blogspot.com/2008/02/xm-spent-12-million-lobbying-for-merger.html
Concened American? Your are still confused. Layoff the kool-aid, think and LEARN for yourself instead of repeating what satradio lobbying tells you.
I'm not at all concerned about the huge MLB contract. Baseball got a great deal... it's one of America's favorite past times. Even if they spent too much on the contract, I'm sure the money received by MLB is being well spent! I love the free market. I hope it stays free. I hope we can always spend as much as we like for rights to broadcast or pay for talent. AND I hope our government is friendly to business. Because successful businesses pay for our national security, through taxes. It's how the government raises revenue to pay for what we take for granted. And when government works efficiently and for THE PEOPLE, it is awesome.
pfreak,
In addition to those money's spent on talent and content, which at least is pro-consumer:
The satradio which has never made a dime in it's life spent 2.6+ million in lobbying in 2007.
"but I'm happy to have 1 or both companies go bust. They'll be others to replace them and maybe they will show some fiscal restraint." maybe the management will have clue and a backbone to tell a greedy egomanic CEO a push for "merge" to bring on a quick personal payday is not in satradio's best interest.
It is quite apparent that Brownback has been BOUGHT by the NAB to delay the merger even more so. Good job asshole!
Concerned American?,
There you go again, personal confused opinion, which wouldn't matter to the next guy who doesn't like MLB, nor is convinced by marketing that baseball is "one of America's favorite past times" You like the free market so much you don't mind paying for MLB on xm which used to be available on free tv and radio?
"I'm not at all concerned about the huge MLB contract. Baseball got a great deal... it's one of America's favorite past times. Even if they spent too much on the contract, I'm sure the money received by MLB is being well spent! I love the free market. I hope it stays free."
There you go again, using personal confused opinion to try to desperately justify a "merge" MONOPOLY, which is not pro-consumer in the least. So now national security funding hinges on sirius and xm being able to "merge"?
"successful businesses pay for our national security, through taxes. It's how the government raises revenue to pay for what we take for granted
Concened American? WOW Your are still confused, it's getting deeper and deeper.
Sam Brownback has mislead the public with his accusations of CEO's lieing to the public. He has major money ties with the NAB and terrestrial radio and will do anything to stop the XM / Sirius merger. He should be removed from office for all his lieing. I wrote him and told him exactly how I feel about his BS. . .
http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=International&CONTENTID=12364&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm
http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/npr-and-senator.html
WRITE SAM AND TELL HIM WHAT A MAJOR LIAR HE IS:
http://brownback.senate.gov/CMEmailMe.cfm
Free market is great BUT you have to be able to justify and handle your expenses, neither xm nor sirius have ever done either. As pfreak points out "They'll be others to replace them and maybe they will show some fiscal restraint." Face it like em or not terrestrial radio has the money, has the advert sales, and has the 250million plus extra listeners to spend money on content but even they know there are limits and good or bad they follow some sort of business plan which makes money. As I've said before satradio flashed alot of cash they dont have to sign a ton of content and talent but it won't be able to sustain or even continue the spending without making money and a serious flawed business plan is not a reason to get out of FCC regulation and put the "merge" burden on consumers.
LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER CONGRESSMAN BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY NAB
You couldn't have chosen a more appropriate picture of that smug assclown.
Mel Karmazin Enrages Congress, May Have Defeated XM-Sirius Merger
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brent-budowsky/mel-karmazin-enrages-cong_b_42881.html
"He stated to Congress that the merger would be good for consumers because we would receive expanded services without expanded price. Several times he stated that he would agree to not raise prices for a designated time, say 1, 2, 3, 4, years.
As a subscriber, I interpreted that to mean that my subscription price post-merger would not rise above $12.95. That is exactly how Members of Congress interepreted this.
Now Mel is squishing and squirming and it appears that what he really meant to say was this: XM and Sirius subscribers would indeed pay more than the current $12.95 per month, pre merger, but less than two times the $12.95 per month, post-merger.
The truth is still not clear, but Members of Congress are on the warpath and as they learn about this "loophole"
"I know a lot about the radio industry generally, including satellite radio, and the problem is clear. XM and Sirius got into financial trouble because of ballooning cost structures, including giant costs for talent such as Howard Stern and Oprah, and because of limited business models with limited revenue streams beyond subscribers.
A merger could limit some costs by eliminating overlap of programming (i.e. music and talk genres need not be duplicated) and cost savings through layoffs. However, this would not save nearly enough money, by my math, to keep subscriber fees at $12.95."
Mel:
"What do you mean, too much money? There's no such thing as too much money."
"The first thing that I have always said is that you should believe everything I tell you, until I lie to you once, and don't believe another word I say if I do that."
isnt a home theater a/v reviever that recieves xm & sirius concidered interoperable?
Do you have any real evidence that he is" bought and paid for by NAB?" Political contributions are public information...show me the money!
Coward,
It's about me getting all the channels on one receiver. I'm 12 years old. I can hardly afford to pay for two subscriptions. I don't even care about "merge monopolies". I don't even like board games. I just want to eat my frosted flakes and listen to both MLB and NFL on the same radio! And if it takes me, young as I am, learning about the FCC, the free market, and the morons in Washington to get what I want, then so be it. Nothing is going to come between me and my sports radio.
Now I have little league practice, so excuse me. Cya
Mel Karmazin Enrages Congress, May Have Defeated XM-Sirius Merger
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brent-budowsky/mel-karmazin-enrages-cong_b_42881.html"
This piece is dated March 7, 2007 - dead money, since Congress can't do anything now.
Dear Senator,
in your statement regarding Mel Karmazin, it looks like you were duped by one of your paymasters, the National Association of Broadcasters. As far as interoperability of XM and Sirius Satellite receivers goes, the firms were supposed to develop one. They were NOT, however, directed to market one, especially if it were deemed that it would be cost prohibitive or not merchantable. No government department has the right to mandate such a thing.
You merely parroted a lie told by the NAB, through their shell organization, C3SR, which as you may know, is a group of part time law students and full time liars, bought and paid for by the NAB.
What does Jesus say about bearing false witness? And would a man who claimed to truly fear God do the bidding of people who are trying to stack the deck in their favor?
I don't know why it surprises anyone when a liar is caught lying. It wouldn't be the first time one of these deals is shot down for cause. Hooray for the senator who takes his job seriously enough to call bullshit when he sees it.
How sadly typical here at Orbitcast when the small few blind, ignorant, satradio fanboys see someone that has a different opinion than them they are labeled NAB, accused of being payoff, duped, parroted, and abuse.
Max show us the facts behind your posts. Show us all exactly about the C3SR, that Senator BB is at the mercy of "paymasters" Backup your BS posts with CLEAR and CONCISE facts or zip it and watch and learn the truth. Your fear and anger with anyone with opinions backed up with facts which are not your own is making you more and more desperate, and more and more out of touch with reality.
Me donated to a number of Senators and Congressman directly, including MAx Baucus, Eliot Engal and David Dreier.
All have come out in support, and pushed for the Merger. Cross reference the donations of the lobbying arm of SIRI including Quinn Gillespie & Associates and you will see that they are spreading out money just as fast as the NAB
Mel's donation: http://www.newsmeat.com/media_political_donations/Mel_Karmazin.php
Actually, this is a farce simply because the DOJ says not a Monopoly.
The DOJ makes the law here, not the FCC. The FCC just cant win at this point no matter what.
I have yet to talk to a customer of either company that is not a shareholder and supports this merger. If you stand to make money off it then you're all for it but the fact is, it reduces competition in the SDARS industry and may very well be the death of it. I fucking hate Brownback but I support him here.
Posted by: pfreak | June 11, 2008 1:26 PM
HERES ONE.
As i predicted, when we are close to a decision, it would bring out all the henchmen to shrill about the merger--That way, they can report back to special interests , like the NAB, and say they tried..
Concerned American?
We'd all like more value for our money, but a "merge" of satradio is not going to get you what you think your going to get. If your sports Radio is as important to you as you say it is your best option is to continue to pay for both xm and sirius, see you have a choice. IF "merge" is allowed to happen you won't have the choice and you'll be paying more for less. This thread is all about Mel not being honest with Congress do you think he give a hoot about consumer honesty? There are many things that could happen with "merge" or NO! "merge" neither has been set in stone. Direct competition between xm and sirius (or other sat radio companies) is the only way forward for the satradio industry and to keep the quality and content at it's best for consumers. Blindly cheerleading pro-"merge" without the facts and truth is not only going to make things more expensive for consumers with choice taken away, if "merge" is allowed to happen it will be the day the satradio industry killed itself.
It's easy to place blame on those and in situations you are unsure of, but this is not a issue brought on by the FCC or any elected officials who are doing their JOBS.
If Sirius and xm followed through with their agreements with the FCC you could have a interoperable radio which would allow you the programming you want AND probably have a deal to get both services. Thats what direct competition does, thats why direct competition is needed to remain in the satradio industry.
Also this "merge" MONOPOLY and time will make most talent and content contracts up for renegotiation, there is no way satradio will be able to flash the cash they once did to lure talent and content they currently have, nor will some content want to have anything to do with a MONOPOLY. Face the unfortunate facts satradio as we know it, even though it is only a few years old is in it's twilight, and the "merge" / cash grab scheme by satradio management is making sure the final nails are being driven.
think and LEARN when it comes to "mergers" it's never done to benefit the consumer.
Apparently Jesus told him it was cool to take a bribe
The DOJ makes the law here, not the FCC. The FCC just cant win at this point no matter what.
Posted by: Triple M
Keep dreaming Triple M, but the FCC is very much the LAW when it comes to "merge" MONOPOLY when it has to do with the radio spectrum. Ignorance is no excuse for BS posts.
AC
Keep dreaming Triple M, but the FCC is very much the LAW when it comes to "merge" MONOPOLY when it has to do with the radio spectrum. Ignorance is no excuse for BS posts. -hahahahaha
If that was the case, they would have denied the merger already.
According to the WSJ, NAB has contributed an undisclosed amount of money to C3SR.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121322248905865881.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
He and his friends in the White House mislead this country into a war where thousands of Americans have been killed and ten of thousands have been seriously wounded. Let's impeach him and Bush for that!
if you knew the first thing about senator brownback, you'd know that he's no fan of the NAB. He very much dislikes what he thinks is the smut on TV and radio that terrestrial broadcasters put on way too much and way too early in the day as far as he's concerned. maybe, just maybe, he actually thinks that letting the country's only two sat rad companies merge is a bad thing for his constituents. brownback is usually pro business and in favor of most mergers, so he must just think that this merger is a bad thing.
Apparently someone forgot to tell the NAB surrogates around here that interoperable radios are already on the market. There are head units which can receive XM, Sirius, HD Radio, and have an IPod jack.
I can only thank God that in a time of mislead war, rising unemployment, a broken economy, a spiraling deficit, inflation, bankrupt social security, health care in shambles, and a corrupt Congress that Brownback is looking out for my satrad interests.
What a joke he is .... Another reason to vote for Obama this fall. Republican's stink lately.
The Merger of Satellite Radio & What's Wrong with Business in America
http://navigatethefuture.blogspot.com/2007/01/merger-of-satellite-radio-whats-wrong.html
"the Consumer Coalition for Competition in Satellite Radio was founded by a group of George Washington University law students whose take is "if the only two satellite radio companies are permitted to combine, consumers will be totally at the mercy of a monopoly provider."
"Both companies are bleeding red ink so why not merge? Because it is not in the public interest."
"The proposed merger of satellite television's Echo Star Communications and Hughes Electronics was grounded by the FCC on the basis that the companies did not "demonstrate that the merger would serve the public interest." Critics of the proposed deal said the merger would create a satellite television monopoly by combining the nation's number one and two DBS operators. Sound familiar?"
Joe,
Apparently you forgot to LEARN interoperable radios are NOT already on the market, and NEVER have been. There are head units which can receive XM, Sirius, HD Radio, and have an IPod jack. Your so confused and desperate.... I have a 1970's receiver with a aux and a phono input too would you would consider that to be a interoperable radio too?
The interoperable radios the FCC mandated (and Sirius and xm agreed to) would be one satradio that was able to tune in both Sirius and xm on the same satradio device.
The blind, ignorant satradio fanboys here try to top each other with each post showing more ignorance than the last.
Joe no matter how many times you show us your ignorance, you still won't be correct. Learn the truth before continue to post BS.
Wrong:
What is wrong with these people?? Interoperable radios ALREADY EXIST IN THE MARKET!!! Go to Best Buy or Circuit City and search on Sirius. They include HD Radio and IPod compatibility. What's the issue here? Government should stay out of free market concerns.
Posted by: Joe | June 6, 2008 12:37 PM
Wrong:
Hey AC. You have no idea what you are talking about. Satrad/HD Radio devices are alreay for sale at your local store. So what was the problem again???
C3SR and NAB are high school flunkies
Posted by: Joe | June 6, 2008 2:48 PM
Wrong:
Hey AC. You have no idea what you are talking about. Satrad/HD Radio devices are already for sale at your local store. So what was the problem again???
C3SR and NAB are high school flunkies
Posted by: Joe | June 6, 2008 2:49 PM
Wrong:
Apparently someone forgot to tell the NAB surrogates around here that interoperable radios are already on the market. There are head units which can receive XM, Sirius, HD Radio, and have an IPod jack.
Posted by: Joe | June 11, 2008 8:14 PM
Joe/jmm232 why the name change?
Still 100% Wrong:
Can someone tell the NAB surrogate that interoperable radios already exist in the market? I know he lives in here, so he doesn't know these things.
Someone make sure to change his newspapers and leave him some food and water.
Posted by: jmm232 | June 11, 2008 8:19 PM
Notice:
Senator Brownback was sent out By Senator Pat Leahy to do this. I know this to be true.
Want to do something constructive instead of just bitch? ... write to Brownback and Leahy on their web tonight tonight and be respectful, supporting the merger.
http://brownback.senate.gov/CMEmailMe.cfm
http://leahy.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Interoperable Satellite Radios Becoming a Reality Saturday, June 17, 2006 at 12:06 PM, At least so Ryan thought 2 years ago......
Introducing Interoperable Technologies, a joint effort supported and funded by both XM and Sirius, working to bring dual-subscription satellite radios to market. XM and Sirius both share ownership in the company.
Interoperable Technologies, founded in 2003, is in the process of designing and architecting these dual-mode satellite radios, with the help of regular consultations from both XM and Sirius. In 2005 they successfully completed the design of a radio capable of receiving both services, and have a timeline to bring a reciever to market this year.
For only $26/month you get over 300-channels of superior content in a single unit. I can't wait.
------
A month prior Saturday, March 18, 2006
More, GO Ryan! history is such a good tool to find guilt today.
http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/sirius-xm-satellite-radio-interoperability.html
There's an interesting tidbit of information in SIRIUS' Form 10-k filed this week.
We signed an agreement with XM Radio, the holder of the other FCC license to provide a satellite-based digital audio radio service, to develop a unified standard for satellite radios to enable consumers to purchase one radio capable of receiving both SIRIUS' and XM Radio’s services. We expect the unified standard to detail the technology to be employed by manufacturers of such dual-mode radios, although we have no assurances that any manufacturer will build, or that a market will develop, for such dual-mode radios. The technology relating to this unified standard is being developed, funded and will be owned jointly by the two companies. This unified standard is also intended to meet FCC rules that require interoperability of both licensed satellite radio systems. In 2005, we substantially completed the design of a radio capable of receiving both services.
It goes on to read:
Our FCC license is conditioned on us certifying that our system includes a receiver design that will permit end users to access XM Radio's system. We have signed an agreement with XM Radio to develop jointly a unified standard for satellite radios to facilitate the ability of consumers to purchase one radio capable of receiving both our and XM Radio's services. We believe that this agreement, and our efforts with XM Radio to develop this unified standard for satellite radios, satisfies the interoperability condition contained in our FCC license.
So from 2003 - 2008 Sirius and xm have refusing to comply with FCC mandates and keeping a BS company around to act like they and xm were doing something. How much money has both invested into Interoperable Technologies now for 6 years which has yet to produce and market a radio?
FRAUD
GUILTY
0.0
NO! "merge"
Mel Karmazin has been caught lying to congress, HUGE fines to follow.
Oh I can't stop laughing
Using the words constructive and respectful with this crowd? Not a f***ing chance. That would be like using the words educated and wise with this crowd, Ain't no Thang.
By NAB member's vehement postings here, I'd say the merger is approved and at hand. Coward is frustrated and spent with phony postings.
Goodbye AM/FM forever.
Amen to that Plowboy.
AMEN, plowboy.
Plowboy, and Zach are desperate in any change of the topic of the thread.
No! to "merge"
No! to thinking the only people against the "merge" aka those who have the ability to think, have anything to do with the NAB, FCC or any other group also against Mel's "merge" MONOPOLY aka management cash grab and the speedball for satradio's demise.
Amen Plowboy.
Here ya go, mutt:
Political payoffs
So far this election season broadcasters have donated $ 3,592,069 in hard money contributions to candidates. Over the past three years the big five Media companies, Disney (ABC), News Corp (Fox) GE (NBC & Telemundo), Viacom (ABC), Time Warner (CNN & WB) plus the NAB have spent over $ 79, 740,000 on lobbying.
Political Moneyline /FECinfo.com
Killing free or reduced air time for political ads is only one of the lobbying goals of the NAB and the big media companies. NAB's legislative agenda ranges from promoting protectionist policies against the Satellite Television industry and Low Power radio, to limiting their public interest requirements by fighting spectrum user fees and political advertisement subsidies. Beyond protecting the broadcasting industry, media company lobbying efforts have ranged from supporting provisions in international free trade agreements to the elimination of the estate tax.
Contributions, lobbying, all expenses paid junkets, and above all favorable spin during the ever smaller news hole in which news issues are framed are the payback provided by the broadcasters to the politicians. Norman Solomon, media analyst for the media watchdog group FAIR, points out that Fox New’s parent, NewsCorp had a large stake in the deregulation rules because they both already owned more stations than the previous rules had allowed. Fox provided vehemently pro-war news coverage and editorials in the period before the Iraq invasion. Solomon comments, "This is the typical Karl Rove strategy of helping out those who further the agenda of the administration.”
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=11504
Max thats very interesting but vague as all hell, has your mind just figured out most companies spend money on lobbying on? Whoa add that to the ever growing list of stuff Max/Maxm knows. This has already been covered in it's proper thread.
Nice try though...
Brownback is a Jesus freak that spent his entire time at the congressional hearings on Sirius and XM talking about how Playboy radio and Howard Stern were going to destroy our country. He didn't address any ACTUAL issue regarding the merger and focused strictly on content until he ran out of time and the chair had to tell him to shut up. Even Orrin Hatch pointed out how ridiculous his comments were.
Senator Sam Brownback Took Money from Clear Channel Communications
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00005244
I guess he is showing a little favoritism after all.
Bought and paid for just like the rest of them..
If I may further....
Senator Brownback is concerned that Mel may have mislead the Congress (on an issue that has no relevance to the merger BTW ) but doesn't seem very upset that George Bush mislead 310 million Americans killing 4500 of them while spending 3 Billion dollars daily for over six years in an unnecessary war.
Strange priorities you Americans. Vote anything but GOP.