Why is the NAB fighting so hard?

The Orbitcast blog has an interesting article that may explain the NAB's ultimate goal in opposing the Sirius/XM Radio merger. In reading NAB's pleadings in the merger proceeding, I had noted references to the fact that Sirius and XM would have a monopoly on the spectrum used for satellite radio, and suspected but that was the real reason for its opposition. Now, Orbitcast has an article entitled "Source: Surrendering spectrum is the "end game," in which a source says that NAB and Clear Channel have been working towards the goal of forcing the merger partners to surrender spectrum.

I'm glad to see my suspicions confirmed. This is a good example of why you often can't take pleadings at face value in the regulatory process.