Military Might Draft XM Satellite Radio

[rainbow4321]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050626/ap_on_hi_te/xm_radio_military_1

Customers of XM Satellite Radio Inc. aren't the only ones who appreciate its digital quality and nationwide coverage. The U.S.military might draft XM's service for homeland security purposes. XM and Raytheon Co. have jointly built a communications system that would use XM's satellites to relay information to soldiers and emergency responders during a crisis


The Mobile Enhanced Situational Awareness Network, known as MESA, would get a dedicated channel on XM's satellites that would be accessible only on devices given to emergency personnel. The receivers would be the same as the portable ones available to consumers, with slight modifications to make them more rugged.

The military often leases transmission space on commercial satellites, but this collaboration between a massive defense contractor and a fun-loving radio network — XM's first two satellites were dubbed "Rock" and "Roll," and its next two might be "Rhythm" and "Blues" — is unusual

While XM's service only reaches North America, Raytheon has signed on with Worldspace Corp., a satellite radio provider in Africa, Asia and Europe, for global coverage. That system debuted in March during tsunami relief efforts in Asia, when Raytheon and Worldspace gave satellite receivers to aid agencies to coordinate their activities, said Mike Fleenor, the MESA program manager at Raytheon.

[hlthe2b]

1. Military stateside? Posse Commitatus really is "dead" isn't it?

Sounds practical, but I no longer trust anything the Bush*-administered DHS wants to implement--particularly when they involve the military...

[Judi Lynn]

2. What does this mean for Air America, since XM will be the only source

come July 11th.

Can the looney-tune _Bush gubmint knock our only real Demcratic radio station off the air?

[rainbow4321]

3. That was one of my concerns when I saw the headline..

Them getting their damn tentacles into yet another company..first the former Carlyle Group neocon exec hired by Google, now this. Nothing is as it first seems with the chimp controlled regime/military..there has to be a sweet deal in this for them and their control-the-media/news sources agenda in some sort of way. Guess time will tell..Better Google for the real details of the deal while we still CAN!

Most likely it won't effect stuff like AAR but the thought of the same company being in bed w/ the shrub regime is kind of scary. Like "if you want to keep your federal contract, keep your radio people in step with the chimp regime" kind of scary :scared:

[kcr]

4. This is a good thing

Call me silly, but I LIKE the idea of the National Guard and the Amred Forces having a communication channel during national emergencies. Telling National Guard units what to do during a hurricane is a Good Thing.

Not everything is a conspiracy, people. Oswald acted alone, the government did not bring down the towers, and XM is not going to suddenly turn into Bush Propoganda cental becasue they have one channel dedicated to helping firs responders in a time of crisis.

[Placebo]

6. Oswald acted alone?

I hope you're not serious. :o

[NashVegas]

5. And This is Why I Love Terrestrial Radio

If the government wants to commandeer satellite radio, all they need to do is flip a switch in Washington.

Theoretically, they could do the same with terra radio, via the EAS system. But it'd be a lot easier to take back control locally.