Another senator has weighed in on the XM/Sirius merger still pending at the Federal Communications Commission.
Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) wrote Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin recently about the transaction, calling into question proposals that would require a merged satellite radio entity to set aside a portion of capacity for non-commercial, educational programming. At the moment, a 4 percent set-aside for that type of programming, along with a talked-about 4 percent for minority and women's programming, appears to be the proposed merger conditions on most everybody's minds.
Klobuchar told Martin that the combined 8 percent set-aside is "not enough to serve the public interest and ensure a viable, independent and diverse broadcast media." She said the FCC should require a merged satellite radio company to set aside more capacity for non-commercial programming.
"By dedicating a significant block of the satellite radio spectrum to public interest programming, the FCC can help ensure that satellite radio - a relatively new and important communications medium - contains a diversity of voices and opinions," said Klobuchar.
Last week, Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told the FCC that "the wisest course of action" would be to reject the satellite radio merger proposal. But they also added that conditions could mitigate any harms to consumers.
SAW II
Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) wrote Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin recently about the transaction, calling into question proposals that would require a merged satellite radio entity to set aside a portion of capacity for non-commercial, educational programming. At the moment, a 4 percent set-aside for that type of programming, along with a talked-about 4 percent for minority and women's programming, appears to be the proposed merger conditions on most everybody's minds.
Klobuchar told Martin that the combined 8 percent set-aside is "not enough to serve the public interest and ensure a viable, independent and diverse broadcast media." She said the FCC should require a merged satellite radio company to set aside more capacity for non-commercial programming.
"By dedicating a significant block of the satellite radio spectrum to public interest programming, the FCC can help ensure that satellite radio - a relatively new and important communications medium - contains a diversity of voices and opinions," said Klobuchar.
Last week, Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told the FCC that "the wisest course of action" would be to reject the satellite radio merger proposal. But they also added that conditions could mitigate any harms to consumers.
SAW II