NAB Withdraws Petition to FCC on Satellite Radio

[Boston Blackie]

Washington - Nov 10, 2004 - The NAB withdrew its petition that requested
the FCC to prohibit satellite radio from broadcasting local traffic and
weather services. With this action from the NAB, satellite radio now has
no content restrictions.

In the organization's formal request to dismiss the petition the NAB
stated, "the FCC at this time cannot paint the full picture of the
effect on localism and local broadcasters. NAB believes the Commission
should not decide this issue without a full understanding of how this
service is developing and what its true impact will be. Accordingly, NAB
will continue to monitor the evolution of satellite radio and we intend
to bring the matter before this agency when a fuller picture has
developed."

http://beradio.com/currents/radio_currents_110804/#xm

[Truth]

> Washington - Nov 10, 2004 - The NAB withdrew its petition that requested
> the FCC to prohibit satellite radio from broadcasting local traffic and
> weather services. With this action from the NAB, satellite radio now has
> no content restrictions.

Keep in mind the NAB never had any power over satellite radio in any way.
They just asked the FCC to please stop satellite radio from having local
weather.

In other words, the FCC DOES have the authority to tell satellite radio what
they can and can not broadcast, else why would the NAB waste time with the
petition at all?

Now then. If the FCC decides they will issue fines for indecency or
certain language or speech on satellite radio, then they will do exactly
that. After all, XM and Sirius can not have satellites and broadcast
without the FCC licenses they were issued.

> In the organization's formal request to dismiss the petition the NAB
> stated, "the FCC at this time cannot paint the full picture of the
> effect on localism and local broadcasters.

But at another time in the future, they may.