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User:TomXP411/C3SR

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April 6, 2007

I have copied this page to user space because it's distinctly possible that I'm being biased here. If the article is removed from mainspace or substantially altered, then this will stay as a signpost of my original thoughts. -- TomXP411 05:05, 10 April 2007 (UTC)

The C3SR, a self-proclaimed consumer advocacy group, has been suppreptitiously receiving money and material support from the National Association of Broadcasters, satellite radio's most vocal enemy. The C3SR, also known as the Consumer Coalition for Competition in Satellite Radio, claims to be a group of Washington DC area law students, all of them satellite radio fans, who want to stop the merger. The NAB is a lobbying group, composed of member radio and television stations all across the country.

At issue is whether the merger between Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio should be allowed to proceed. Claims by the NAB support the idea that this merger would create an illegal monopoly, which the Sherman Antitrust Act expressly forbids. Proponents of the merger believe that XM and Sirius have plenty of competition, and that the NAB's vehemence belies the fact that the NAB's own radio stations compete with satellite radio.

On the surface, it seems natural that groups with a common cause would unite to fight something that threatens them both. The C3SR's members do not want their rights threatened by a monopolistic radio service. This would raise their prices and reduce the quality of their radio programming. The NAB has their own problems with satellite radio: one look at the NAB web site's Search page shows dozens of articles, FCC filings, and advertising images that illustrate the NAB's dislike of satellite radio.

The C3SR bills itself as a grass roots organization, made up of college students, but it is becoming apparent that it is really only one person, a part time student who works at a law firm. In a recent interview, the C3SR's founder, Chris Reale, revealed that he works a former assistant general counsel at the NAB. While refusing to acknowledge the nature of its support, Reale has stated that the NAB supports the C3SR. Reale's employer, has provided a telephone line and allows Reale to work on the C3SR on company time. While the NAB may not directly be a client, the Williams Mullen law firm does have communications clients, and Willaims Mullen Strategies is a lobbying group for the communications industry.

Another concern is that the C3SR does not name names anywhere on its site. Even Reale's name is not visible anywhere. There is no list of a board of directors, a contact name, or any way to verify the identity of the members of the C3SR. There is a phone number, which apparently rings a phone at the WIlliams Mullen law firm. In contrast, the mailing list signup form solicits a great deal of personal information: your name, address, and even which radio stations you like. The privacy policy (as of April 4, 2007) conspicuously lacks a statement stating what limits are being placed on the use of your personal information.

Yet another concern has cropped up since Corporate Crime Reporter caught up with the C3SR. Edits on Wikipedia have been discovered that have been quoting the NAB's and C3SR's statements. The only source cited is an a professor at Georgetown University who is also an antitrust advocate. Even though the user who created the edits is brand new, apparently created specifically to insert these comments, the inserted text looked like it had been written by someone with experience on the Wikimedia platform. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the C3SR page also references this study: [1].

Using falsified blogs and customer testimonials is not a new practice in the advertising industry, and while the first amendment currently protects this kind of advertising, it's possible that future legislation may be enacted to limit or prevent such viral marketing tactics. At the very least, it's vital that readers and potential consumers know whether a blog or organization is what it claims to be or simply a marketing tool devised as part of an advertising campaign.

It is unknown whether the C3SR is part of a viral marketing campaign, but advertising is what the media does best, and this is quickly becoming an advertising war. While most consumers still do not know whether the merger will be good or bad for them personally, they do seem to agree that they want the process to be fair, and untainted by back room politics. However, maneuvers like this make it uncertain that this will happen.

Sources

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