WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — In a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Thomas Wheeler, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and John McCain (R-Arizona ) on Wednesday, June 4, pressed the agency to eliminate its sports blackout rule in 60 days. The comment period on the proposed regulations to eliminate the FCC’s sports blackout rule ended March 25, 2014.
“Now that the comment deadline has long passed, we urge the Commission to move forward expeditiously on eliminating the sports blackout rule (SBR),” Blumenthal and McCain wrote. “We believe that the rule unfairly harms consumers by insulating the NFL from market realities and punishing fans in cities with large stadiums and declining populations. We applaud the FCC’s decision to propose elimination of this outdated rule that is no longer supported by facts or logic, and blocks fans from enjoying their favorite teams.”
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Blumenthal and McCain added, “We agree wholeheartedly with the Commission that, ‘the sports blackout rules have become obsolete,’ and we believe the record clearly supports the FCC’s tentative conclusions in favor of eliminating this unnecessary rule. In sum, the Commission has collected the facts and has a rich public record upon which to base a decision. Now it must act. We ask that you commit to bringing a final order to a vote within the next 60 days.”
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Preceding provided by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut