The HD Digital Radio Alliance has filed a complaint with the FCC, officially opposing the proposed satellite radio merger. The organization reiterated its position that satellite radio receivers should also be equipped with the ability to tune in HD Radio stations as well.

In a letter sent to the FCC late last week, the Alliance again says that adding HD Radio capability to satcaster receivers should be a requirement of the merger, as should the termination of any exclusivity agreements with retailers and automakers. The Alliance adds that an XM/Sirius merger would reduce consumer choices and at this point, HD Radio "cannot be considered a competitive alternative to satellite radio." They add that a merger would also "make it more difficult for HD Radio to expand consumer choices."

The letter also goes into detail about the satcasters' relationship with automakers and says that "while XM and Sirius have already become entrenched, HD Radio is at the early stages of adoption in the most important distribution channel for...radio."

Back in December, iBiquity Digital Corp. asked the Commission to require the satcasters to incorporate HD Radio technology into all satellite radio receivers, as a requirement of the FCC's approval of the merger.