We’re in the midst of the 180 day “shot clock” for the FCC review of opinions on the Sirius / XM Merger and those opinions are coming out strong on both sides.

The Americans for Tax Reform and The 60 Plus Association both say that the merger would create a more appealing, family-friendly product. “Former FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth, an economist, released a study of the proposed satellite merger; he concludes consumers would benefit from the union due to reined-in prices and more programming choice.” And this Washington Times editorial says it’s a “good merger” because it is not anti-competitive and is “clearly in the interest of consumers”. Even the NAACP has come out on the side of support.

On the opposite side of the debate, the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters registered their opposition with the FCC, saying that the merger “would create a monopoly that would diminish service and lead to anti-competitive practices”. A 72-member bipartisan group of Congressional leaders agrees that says that “sanctioning the marriage of the only competitors in the satellite radio market would create a monopoly which would be devastating to consumers.”

Perhaps instead of allowing the merger, the FCC can look into the suggestions of Michael Hartleib to update firmware to allow for interoperable radios that can switch easily between XM and Sirius.