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FCC Respond to Blumenthal Call to Eliminate Sports Blackouts

(Hartford, CT) – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last week agreed to a request made by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) that they allow the public to comment on sports blackouts and potentially revise and eliminate the Sports Blackout Rule to preserve access to sports programming on free or low-cost outlets based on the feedback.

“The FCC agreeing to my request for public comment should lead to swift action ending sports blackouts. Such blackouts are a blatant disservice to fans, who now will have an opportunity to express their views to the commission and ensure that the public interest is better considered. I will be stating my own views that sports blackouts are highly unfair and anti-consumer.” 

Blumenthal wrote to the FCC in December requesting they allow public comment on the Sports Blackout Rule in response to a petition filed by several consumer groups. The petition will be open to public comment until February 13.

The Sports Blackout Rule was adopted in 1975 and puts fans who cannot afford to purchase a ticket to local games at a significant disadvantage, particularly because fans pay high prices to watch sports in various forms from ticket prices, premium sports programming, or taxpayer subsidies for new stadiums.

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