An interesting filing against the proposed XM/Sirius merger from one of the oldest civil rights groups in the United States, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). The January 24th statement goes against the tendency of minority advocacy groups to support the union, lauding either XM or Sirius for their niche programming. Not NCNW. They call the merger "a clear, present and unmitigated threat to decency and greater diversity of media ownership."

They continue:

"One only has to evaluate the current programming now offered by Sirius and XM to recognize that our concerns and fears are well founded. Programming such as Howard Stern, Opie and Anthony, and Bubba the Love Sponge—which help to perpetuate racist and sexist stereotypes in our culture—drive the business of both companies. A Sirius - XM satellite radio monopoly will focus its resources on only its most profitable audiences, which more of the same lower common-denominator programming of the Howard Stern variety. Yet the audiences of those shows do not reflect the broader spectrum of the American listening public. It is imperative that satellite radio exists for all of the public, and not simply to put profits in the pockets of the combined Sirius and XM."

NCNW says they support the Georgetown Partners proposal resubmitted to the FCC yesterday. To wit:

Georgetown proposes that Sirius and XM restructure the merger and lease to Georgetown their broadcast infrastructure and at least 20% of the combined entity’s capacity on a long term or permanent basis. Georgetown, a minority-controlled company, would use the capacity to offer free, family-friendly, non-subscription-based programming with limited commercials. Further, Georgetown would do so in full compliance with the FCC’s terrestrial broadcast regulations governing indecent programming that Sirius and XM avoid by their non-broadcast subscription status. Restructuring the merger as proposed by Georgetown assures competition. It is the only proposal that promotes the public interest and provides consumers true benefits on a sustainable basis.

Georgetown’s proposal requires the combined Sirius-XM to carry Georgetown’s advertiser-supported programming to everyone with a satellite radio receiver – subscriber or not. The result would be immediate, continuing and permanent tangible benefit to the public. By contrast, under the Sirius-XM “A La Carte” proposal, millions of consumers who have recently purchased new satellite radios and who want to choose the content they receive would be disenfranchised unless they purchase the next-generation satellite radios – but the next-generation radios are not available now and won’t be any time in the foreseeable future. Of the more than 30 million receivers in the market today, already some 15 million are owned by consumers who neither subscribe to Sirius nor XM. Georgetown’s proposal offers these non-subscribers an opportunity to obtain substantial benefit from the money they paid for their radios. Georgetown offers a home to the disenfranchised and a use for the millions of expensive unused receivers. Subscribers of the combined company and non-subscribers alike would receive Georgetown’s free programming. The result would be greater options in the marketplace for all consumers.