Mooreover / Blog

This morning I read this article on how Washington State had joined 13 other states in writing a letter to the FCC in an attempt to block the merger between Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio. I definitely have better and bigger things to worry about, but this whole issue just makes the principled part of me stand at attention. I get all fired up when the government starts telling me what’s good for me, especially without asking for my input. After reading the article I felt prompted to give my input, so I wrote a quick little letter to the Attorney General of Washington State:

This morning I read online that Washington State had just joined 13 other states in writing a letter to the FCC against the merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio. I couldn’t find any details that said that it came specifically from the office of the Attorney General, so I’m writing in the hopes of getting some clarification: does your office have a formal position against this merger?

I would hope not. As I consider it, there is entirely too much to-do over this proposed merger between two companies that provide what I consider a luxury service: on a subscription model I can choose to pay for more listening options with a continuity of programming that I have access to no matter how far from home I might wander. Living in an often gridlocked Puget Sound, my quality of life has been greatly improved by the acquisition of satellite radio, which gives me the option of listening to commercial-free radio during my drive time or over my computer while I’m at work, without the constant interruption of a prattling dj.

I’m sure that local terrestrial radio stations are freaking out - but competition is forcing them to re-examine their business model, and this is better for their consumers. I still listen to local stations for area weather, news, sports, traffic and music information because satellite radio does not currently have the ability to give me that information on a localized level. And while the local radio stations consider themselves a “FREE” alternative to satellite radio, their listeners pay dearly - listening to a glut of commercials, specifically timed to when their consumers are stuck in the cars, forced to listen.

Did you also write a letter opposing the merger of Exxon-Mobile? I would like to think that you did, but I’m willing to guess that you didn’t. Thanks in some part to that merger (which took no time to approve in comparison), I may be forced to consider some of my “luxury” services. I can either pay for satellite radio and get quality programming in a quality signal for a month, or I can buy three more gallons of gas. Merger or not, I can always choose to end my subscription of satellite radio. I only wish my relationship with Exxon-Mobile was the same.

The Department of Justice has made their decision - and while it took them over 13 months to do so, their decision was fair and informed. I’d like to think that you are looking out for our interests, but I fail to see how fighting this merger accomplishes that.

By the way - it’s not too late to do something about that oil thing - you know, the one where we’re actually forced to pay a premium thanks to the merger of giant conglomerates. I would suggest writing a letter - that seems to make the news.

Part of me feels very guilty for having written this, and that’s because I’m also aware that I’m going to be paying more for food, that no one seems to be worried about being over-run with horses, and that the falling American dollar is only making everything worse. There’s plenty of doom-and-gloom to write about, and while I don’t write about everything, we all have our soapboxes.