Here's the article:

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2006/tc20061030_011865.htm?cam paign_id=bier_tcv.g3a.rss1030l

Looks to me like old radio, as the article calls it, is going to try to leverage it's experience with the FCC in an attempt to level the playing field with XM.

IMHO, it's already fairly level in that tech issues do not rule the roost where attention is concerned. Interesting that technical solutions to what is largely a content problem have not done much to change things up as of yet.

So, now come the attorneys...

Related story in Radio & Records about possible recall of the "part 15" transmitters used in some sat receivers:

http://www.radioandrecords.com/radiomonitor/news/business/leg_reg/article_displa y.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003315527

I wonder whether EMF and other non-commercial Christian broadcasters are aware of the overpowered modulator problem and if they have considered joining NPR in the fight. It seems that the possibily of having their transmissions jammed with cussing from satellite radio should be a prime concern to Christian broadcasters. Properly positioned, I think that this issue could spur an increase in dontation to the non-comm Christian broadcasters.

From the article: "...the NAB contends that XM and Sirius shouldn't be allowed to give away their products for free to new car buyers or online. Last week, Sirius streamed Howard Stern's program for free on its Web site."

I don't see this as any different from the longtime practice of HBO giving occasional free weekends to non-subscribers.

Two other XM/Sirius facts...

They both pay auto manufacturers for placement of capable receivers in their vehicles.

They "count" those vehicles as "subscribers" even before the cars are sold.

So what they are doing is jacking their own numbers.

That's interesting, though not surprising.

I see something similar with engineering software companies. Everybody charges an annual maintence fee for support of the program. If somebody does not pay the fees they mount, then it becomes more worth it to just buy a new seat(which some actually do on purpose every few years because it's cheaper).

Those are tagged as new licenses and shown as growth for the company...



I don't have any issue with the pay for placement bit. It's smart. But counting subscribers before they have actually agreed to something beyond the trial services included with the car is bogus.