XM, Sirius Deal Nears Finality As Companies Agree to Fines

The enforcement of fines has been a sticking point for Republican Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, the only one on the five-member commission who has not yet announced her position on the merger. Her vote to approve it, sealing the $13 million deal, is likely to come as soon as today, said sources familiar with the negotiations. FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin said XM was fined $17.5 million and Sirius $2.2 million to resolve complaints that some of the companies' radio receivers sold to consumers and signal-boosting radio towers violated FCC technical rules. Both companies said they would bring their equipment into compliance. FCC spokesman Robert Kenny said Tate had pushed for the companies to be fined $8 million. After his own review of the violations, Martin increased the amount, Kenny said. "My concern was that there was... [read full story]