Counsel from Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. last week met with FCC Commissioners Deborah Tate and Robert McDowell - in addition to Chairman Kevin Martin - to discuss their pending merger.The three separate meetings with the Republican members of the Federal Communications Commission all occurred on the same day: last Thursday.
Aside from that, little, if anything, can be derived from the ex parte filings made public today.
It can be assumed that Commissioners Copps and Adelstein are likely leaning in opposition to merger. That assumption (and that's all it is) is not only based on comments they have said in the past, but also from both of their respective positions on media consolidation.
So that leaves McDowell and Tate, and don't think that the terrestrial broadcasters don't know that.
[View FCC Filings: 1, 2, 3 (PDF)]
Call me silly, but I think Adelstein is of the new generation that understands that there is no value in craping on business for the sake of crapping on them as old fashioned Dems did.
I think he'll vote in favor of it, and I think he'll be the next FCC Chairman and a darn good one. Maybe I am Pollyanna, but he seems to understand that the "real" monopoly is big radio that did their damnedest to kill satrad and "almost" succeeded .
I think the guy has vision and wisdom. I don't know about the Squire Copps? .. Haven't researched him. He looks kinda cranky.... like "Get off my Lawn" .. McCain!