FCC near decision on radio merger

WASHINGTON, May 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Federal Communications Commission should rule on the proposed merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio soon, an agency head says.

Chairman Kevin J. Martin said the commission could rule by the end of June on the long-delayed merger, which has been criticized for potentially creating a satellite radio monopoly, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

"I still think the commission could act by the end of the second quarter," Martin said Friday.

Martin's comments came days after U.S. Sens. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., communicated with the agency head regarding the merger.

The Post said the two senators asked in a letter to Martin that FCC officials require the two radio giants to offer certain parts of the radio industry to their competitors if the merger is approved.

"We are concerned that this merger could possibly undermine competition and harm the consumer if certain conditions are not applied," the senators said.