Wait gets longer for Sirius-XM radio merger

By JOHN DUNBAR • Associated Press Writer • July 25, 2008 WASHINGTON (AP) — Satellite radio fans who have waited more than 16 months for a merger of the industry’s only two providers will have to wait a little longer. A dispute surfaced Friday between Federal Communications Commission members that delayed a final decision on Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.’s buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate had pledged to vote in favor of the buyout if the commission settled pending enforcement actions against the companies. On Thursday, the two companies agreed to sign a consent decree and pay $19.7 million to settle infractions of FCC rules regarding radio receivers and land-based signal repeaters. The companies agreed to the settlement, but Tate has not voted on the merger, apparently... [read full story]