We have just learned of a commitment letter filed with the FCC Friday, which details all of the voluntary concessions agreed to by Sirius and Xm, in regards to the recent FCC decision.
There are some interesting items of note including a statement that the combined company did not expect to cause or see a reduction in royalty payments as a result of its new offerings, although no commitment was actually made in this regard.
Sirius has voluntarily agreed:
- To work with the commission to resolve all outstanding WCS/Interference issues by the end of 2008;
- To make available immediately, the plans and specifications for an interoperable radio available for license to equipment manufacturers; and within 9 months of the merger offer for sale an interoperable receiver in the retail aftermarket;
- Not to originate local programming or advertising through their repeater networks;
- Provide open access and not enter into any contract that would ban other technologies such as HD; and
- Reiterated its 36 month price freeze;
- Clarified its public interest set aside proposal to include not selecting a programmer to fill more than 1 such channel on each platform, as long as the demand for these channels exceeded the available supply.
Blatantly missing is any suggestion of MAP and PK that an outside oversight be made. All of these concessions are offered voluntarily rather than as a government mandate.
In the end it would appear that Ibiquity, the NAB, Chester Davenport of Georgetown Partners, Jesse Jackson of Rainbow/Pu$h, C3SR and the numerous puppets of the aforementioned groups received absolutely NOTHING in exchange for the money they threw away. In the end, the system worked and America has prevailed!
Complete Filing
position: long xmsr, siri
