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Congressional Group Urges ‘No’ Vote on Satellite Merger

Approximately 70 members of Congress urged federal antitrust authorities this week to block the satellite merger.

Approximately 70 members of Congress urged federal antitrust authorities this week to block the satellite merger.

Lawmakers signed a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, Attorney General Albert Gonzales and Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Deborah Platt Majoras asking that they reject the proposed $13.6 billion merger of Sirius and XM because the marriage “would create a monopoly which would be devastating to consumers.”

The chief authors of the letter are Reps. Gene Green, D-Texas and Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.

Other lawmakers signing include former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., former broadcaster Greg Walden, R-Wash., House Minority Whip Roy Blount, R-Mo., Louis Slaughter, D-N.Y. and Albert Wynn, D-Md.

Other members of Congress who’ve recently expressed concern about the merger are House Commerce Committee Vice Chair Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., House Judiciary Committee chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., and House antitrust task force ranking member Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio.

Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis. chairman of the Senate antitrust subcommittee, also opposes the merger.

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