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Thank you for holding this hearing this morning, Mr. Chairman.
I do think that this proposed merger between XM and Sirius presents a great opportunity for us to learn more about this concept of audio entertainment. The Committee has spent a great deal of time establishing the digital transition which will assist public safety and create new broadband opportunities.
But there is another digital transition underway for radio. I am sure you have had some complaints like I have from broadcasters of news, sports and weather and additional programming that they believe could be subject to competition that they can’t survive with regard to this type of paid national satellite radio service. Even with the proponents of this merger visiting with me and my staff before this hearing, I still don’t know the answer to this question. I look forward to trying to understand it better in this hearing. And we all want to know what this is going to do to the consumers in our state. I look forward to any comments that will be made about the impact this will have on rural America.
Thank you.
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