[quote=“neurokinetik,post:18,topic:24817"”]
How is it a monopoly? Nobody is stopping anyone else from launching a satellite and starting their own service. This is different than the situation we have with cable and telephone, where one provider owns the entire infrastructure and it would be cost-prohibitive to start your own. Think it couldn’t happen? Sirius did it when XM was the only game in town, and now their marketshare is close to 50%.
Plus as long as commercial radio exists, there is still competition. You either choose to pay for satellite service, or not pay, and listen to about 50% less actual content on commercial radio. A monopoly means you have no choice. Even cable is not a monopoly, as nothing is stopping anyone from going to a DBS setup.
[/quote]
Not exactly according to the FCC. Just look back when the FCC stopped DISH Network from purchasing DirecTV. They had agreed on everything and DISH Network was going to purchase them until the FCC came in and said that would be a monopoly over the rural markets. Satellite can hit nationwide while cable does not reach everywhere.