WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The following statement can be attributed to U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, regarding today's proposal by XM and Sirius satellite radio companies to merge:

"This is a merger proposal that merits the utmost scrutiny by Federal policymakers and regulators.  I intend to review the proposed merger of XM and Sirius as to its effect on consumers of pay radio, as well as how this proposal impacts broader policy goals of ensuring diversity, localism, and innovation in radio service generally.  In light of the dramatic consolidation of radio ownership in the U.S. terrestrial radio marketplace in the wake of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, I believe that the merger of the only two satellite radio companies must be assessed with an eye toward ensuring that it does not have a similar, deleterious effect on diversity on the dial and localism in radio coverage and reporting."