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Higgins announces FCC ruling calling for the repeal of sports blackout rules

by jmaloni

Submitted

Thu, Dec 19th 2013 09:15 am

FCC calls blackout rules "obsolete" and "no longer necessary"

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, hailed a ruling by the Federal Communications Commission that calls for the repeal of existing federal policies that contribute to the televised blackout of professional sports.

"For the last 40 years, fans that have supported their hometown teams through their patronage and tax dollars have been unfairly shut out of watching games," Higgins said. "With today's ruling by the FCC, we end the federal role in this unfair process and add momentum and public pressure to a full-scale end to sports blackouts."

After an extended public comment period, the FCC chair, in November, first proposed the elimination of federal regulations that support sports blackouts. On Tuesday, the board of commissioners issued its support for that proposal.

In a report issued Wednesday, the FCC concluded, in part:

"We propose to eliminate the sports blackout rules. With respect to professional football, the sport most affected by the sports blackout rules, it appears from the existing record that television revenues have replaced gate receipts as the most significant source of revenue for NFL clubs in the 40 years since the rules were first adopted. Moreover, the record received thus far indicates no direct link between blackouts and increased attendance at NFL games. ... Thus, it appears that the sports blackout rules have become obsolete. Accordingly, if the record in this proceeding, as updated and supplemented by commenters, confirms that the sports blackout rules are no longer necessary to ensure the overall availability to the public of sports telecasts, we propose to repeal these rules."

This week's Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins game is the latest to fall prey to the blackout rules, preventing fans from watching the game locally. Higgins, whose district is home to the Buffalo Bills, has been vocal in his opposition to the outdated blackout policies.

The NFL has a policy of blacking out games that are not sold out to the home market. A 1961 federal law requires broadcasters (networks) to abide by the league's blackout policy. In January 2012, the FCC opened up a public comment period on a long-time FCC rule that requires cable or satellite providers to honor the blackout rule if it applies to the local affiliate it carries.

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