This morning, the Alabama House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution opposing the proposed merger between XM and Sirius. House Joint Resolution 144 will next go to the Alabama Senate.

In a statement, the NAB said that "It is our hope that similar resolutions will be introduced in other states."

The resolution was introduced last Tuesday, March 20 and stated the intent "that the Attorney General of the United States and the Federal Communications Commission are encouraged to disapprove the proposed merger between the only two national satellite radio companies."

The resolution also says: "that the merger will result in consumers, musicians, and other entertainers being subject to a single company with unlimited market power to impose anti-competitive terms, conditions, and prices;" "the combination of these two satellite radio companies will potentially restrict programming, reduce diversity, and diminish creativity; each result negatively impacting the public interest;" and "unquestionably, a government sanctioned monopoly is harmful to consumers and the public and should be avoided and denied."

Additionally, the Consumer Coalition for Competition in Satellite Radio (C3SR) has filed a report with the FCC claiming the proposed satcaster merger is anticompetitive. The organization has commissioned a study conluding that the merger would create a monopoly that would not benefit consumers. The 91 page report can be read in PDF format here.