Jan 19, 2011 - The FCC has granted Sirius XM special temporary authority to operate terrestrial repeaters in Alaska and Hawaii. The satcaster has had a petition with the FCC for this ability for four years. The STA allows the repeaters to operate at up to 2kW, and Sirius has proposed repeaters to operate at 1,800W around Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Honolulu.

The repeaters are a temporary measure as the satcaster seeks permission to reposition its satellites to cover the states from the sky. The STA is valid for 180 days.

The petition had been opposed by NAB, the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters, the Alaska Broadcasters Association and Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters. The FCC has dismissed those objections.