XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio is fighting to keep its proposed merger alive, and has issued a press release citing a number of the more prominent groups that support its cause. Included are * League of Rural Voters * National Consumers League * National Black Chamber of Commerce * Hispanic Federation * The Latino Coalition * League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) * New York State Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce * Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE). All are said to have filed comments in support of the merger with the FCC.
Meanwhile, the NAB has set up a dedicated website to further crystalize the opposition. Located on the web at xmsiriusmonopoly.com, it aggregates Congressional testimony, news stories and other sources of information supporting the turndown of the merger. NAB has even adorned its building in Washington DC with an invitation to passersby to check out the website.
SmartMedia observation: If this was the Civil War, this pair of actions would probably be reported as mere skirmishing. The real action will be at the FCC, DOJ and Congress, where it appears the merger will have a tough row to hoe.
