[BC] FCC PUBLIC HEARINGS

[Mark Humphrey]

On 2/23/07, Sid Schweiger <sid at wrko.com> wrote:

> If there's a better example of the NAB being arrogant and out of touch,
> I can't think of it.

Maybe I've found a better example in NAB's Feb 22 "Smart Brief", under
the heading:

COLUMN: SATELLITE MERGER NO BOON FOR CONSUMERS
"As with other high-profile mergers in other industries, it's unlikely
consumers will benefit from the proposed joining of Sirius Satellite
Radio and XM Satellite Radio Holdings, according to personal
technology columnist Rob Pegoraro. "More often, the only third parties
to profit from a merger are the lawyers who usher the transaction to
completion and the printing shops that crank out new business cards,"
he writes."

The column referenced is:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/21/AR2007022102043.html

On the second page, Pegoraro writes, "Consider the recent history of
radio. Before satellite broadcasts could get off the ground, relaxed
ownership rules allowed commercial FM to be largely taken over by
Clear Channel and its monopoly-minded ilk, resulting in a nationwide
radio dial of sound-alike stations."

Did the NAB read this far?

I'm confused -- but I think the NAB's position is that it's fine for
big radio and TV station group owners to merge, because this always
leads to wonderful public interest benefits -- but if other companies
merge, consumers lose.  How's that for arrogance?

Mark