A majority of commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission have reached a deal to approve Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.’s long-pending purchase of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., the Wall Street Journal reports

The final hold-out, Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, agreed to vote to approve the deal after winning several concessions from the companies involving enforcement issues.

“I think it’s fair to say an agreement in principle has been reached,” FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said in an interview Thursday morning. “We’re still trying to work out the language.”

Once rival satellite radio companies, XM and Sirius, are on the verge of merging after more than 500 days of talks. WSJ’s Dennis Berman and Heidi Moore discuss the impending union.

A deal was reached with the companies late Wednesday night to pave the way for Ms. Tate’s vote on the merger, Mr. Martin said. Four of the commissioners had already voted on the deal, but they had split 2-2 on whether to approve it.

The two satellite radio companies agreed to enter into a consent decree to resolve complaints they violated FCC rules. Those violations include using excessive power levels on some radio units sold to consumers and erecting several unauthorized towers to boost their satellite signals.

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