The Federal Communications Commission is looking for feedback on whether to overturn a statute standing in the way of a proposed merger between satellite radio companies XM and Sirius.

The FCC issued a notice Wednesday saying it is re-evaluating a 1997 order that prohibits the creation of a single satellite radio company on the grounds that a monopoly was not in the public’s interest.

Advocates of the merger have argued the statute is no longer relevant, because the merged company would still compete with everything from iPods to terrestrial radio.

FCC spokesman David Fiske said the agency cannot comment beyond the notice. According to the document, parties have 30 days to submit comments on the idea, after which there will be a reply period.

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Even if the FCC overturns the rule, D.C.-based XM and New York-based Sirius will still have hurdles to clear.

A merger would still need to be approved separately by the FCC and the U.S. Department of Justice. XM spokesman Nathaniel Brown did not return requests for comment Thursday.

XM announced Thursday it will be the exclusive provider of National Hockey League material beginning Sunday; games before were broadcast on both XM and Sirius. The company also said this week it will begin hosting political debates this summer on its nonpartisan channel devoted to the 2008 presidential election, “POTUS ’08.”

melissa.frederick@dcexaminer.com