Federal Communications Commission member Jonathan Adelstein may vote to approve the merger of Sirius and XM satellite radio if the companies agree to tougher conditions. He wants the companies to cap prices for six years and make one-quarter of their satellite capacity available for public-interest and minority programming -- 25 percent of the companies' satellite capacity for public interest programming -- 10 percent for noncommercial programming and 15 percent for minority programming. That potentially would work out to about 75 channels. He is proposing that the companies be required to include a digital radio tuner in any radios they subsidize that also include regular, non-digital AM-FM service. Digital radio is a small but growing market that is expected to become more popular in years to come. Adelstein also wants to set up an enforcement regime to make sure the companies adhere to the conditions, something that was not outlined in the previous voluntary offer. Commissioner Adelstein circulated his recommended conditions among the other four commissioners Thursday. Commissioner Adelstein has been a vocal opponent of big media mergers, so his offer is somewhat surprising. But with strong odds that fellow Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate eventually would vote yes, his move would make the deal more palatable for critics.
