Regulator to support XM and Sirius merger

WASHINGTON, June 16 (UPI) -- A key U.S. regulator has said he would support the merger between XM and Sirius, the country's two satellite radio operators.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said he would support the idea, which goes before a vote before the regulator's five commissioners, The Washington Post reported Monday.

If approved, the vote would run counter to licensing agreements made in 1997, which stipulated that the two companies never merge, the Post reported.

Martin's support includes new agreements on price caps and a la carte offerings that restricts packaging channels into bundled products.

The companies have also agreed to produce radios that make both Sirius and XM programming available to consumers and make their technology standards public to allow other radio manufacturers access to the satellite radio market.

"This is an unusual situation," Martin said in a statement. "I am recommending that with the voluntary commitments (Sirius and XM) have offered, on balance, this transaction would be in the public interest."