Over the objections of television broadcasters and other groups, federal regulators set aside a disputed slice of radio spectrum for public use on Tuesday, hoping it would lead to low-cost, high-speed Internet access and new wireless devices. [MORE]
Source: The New York Times
The quest to put a radio tuner in every mobile device continues to move forward. Talks among radio groups, the NAB, cell phone carriers and the FCC are in motion, and if all goes well, supporters believe within five years every portable device could be equipped with a radio chip. Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan says “It’s the next big thing for the industry.”
The fate of an important chunk of wireless spectrum in the U.S. is being decided by the FCC, and Google wants to rally public support for turning this spectrum over to unlicensed uses, just like we do today with WiFi. [MORE]
As part of its approval of the merger, the FCC has said ‘no’ to requiring XM-Sirius to include HD Radio receivers in all new satellite radios. But the approval did include some requirements.
FCC commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate is expected to vote in favor of the merger today, giving the deal a majority approval vote. [MORE]
The Federal Communications Commission was set to approve a merger between XM and Sirius on Thursday, a move that would end a nearly 18-month review of a deal that would essentially create a monopoly in satellite radio. [MORE]
FCC commissioner Michael Copps, a longtime warrior against media consolidation, on Monday (July 21) voted against the proposed Sirius, XM satellite radio merger, a decision that has lingered at the FCC for more than 410 days. [MORE]