freedom2
07-24-2008, 12:25 PM
Jonathan Adelstein, one of two Democratic commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission, has cast his dissenting vote on the Sirius/XM merger, a move that came along with a strong statement on the deal.
Adelstein floated some ideas on the pending satellite radio deal, including a six-year cap on prices, a set-aside of capacity amounting to 25 percent, and the inclusion of HD Radio technology in future satellite radio receivers. Apparently, his proposals didn't gain much steam at the Portals.
"I was hoping to forge a bipartisan solution that would offer consumers more diversity in programming, better price protection, expanded choices among innovative devices and real competition with digital radio," Adelstein said in a statement on the XM/Sirius merger released Wednesday. "Instead, it appears they're going to get a monopoly with window dressing. We really missed a great opportunity to reach a bipartisan agreement that would have benefited the American people."
Adelstein floated some ideas on the pending satellite radio deal, including a six-year cap on prices, a set-aside of capacity amounting to 25 percent, and the inclusion of HD Radio technology in future satellite radio receivers. Apparently, his proposals didn't gain much steam at the Portals.
"I was hoping to forge a bipartisan solution that would offer consumers more diversity in programming, better price protection, expanded choices among innovative devices and real competition with digital radio," Adelstein said in a statement on the XM/Sirius merger released Wednesday. "Instead, it appears they're going to get a monopoly with window dressing. We really missed a great opportunity to reach a bipartisan agreement that would have benefited the American people."