Advocacy group Media Access Project says if the satellite merger is approved, the FCC should require the merged company to give up half of its spectrum.
MAP opposes the deal, saying it would increase media consolidation and hurt unserved and underserved communities and content providers.
In recent meetings with staff for Commissioners Robert McDowell, Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, a MAP lobbyist said if approved, the deal should be conditioned on the merged entity giving up 12.5 MHz of its S-band spectrum. According to an FCC filing, MAP says the FCC should create a set-aside for NCE programming, require the combined entity to lease capacity to unaffiliated commercial programmers or require the excess capacity to be returned for auction.
MAP also suggested the merged company adopt an “open device” principal.
