FCC chief closes in on deal for XM-Sirius approval

WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is close to securing the final vote needed to get majority support for giving conditional approval to Sirius Satellite Radio Inc's (SIRI.O) purchase of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc XMSR.O, a source familiar with the merger review said on Wednesday.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is near an agreement to get the support of fellow Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, which would give him the three votes needed for approval of the deal on the five-member commission, the source said. (Reporting by Peter Kaplan; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)