We have just been made aware that the issue of HD inclusion in SDARS receivers may be reviewed in a separate FCC process.

In a filing made public moments ago, NPR states:

“The message referenced a proposal to condition Commission approval of the XM-Sirius merger on the contemporaneous initiation of an expedited notice and comment proceeding regarding the inclusion of HD receiver capability in satellite receivers. NPR fully endorsed this proposal as an essential means of assuring the broad availability of local HD services to the public.”

As I stated yesterday, the recent attack from the NAB was cause for concern…Let’s hope this issue takes another 17 months to resolve. A separate filing references “the pending notice of proposed rule making.”

[ FCC Filing ]