FEDERAL COfl/lMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
September 11, 2013
Mignon L. Clyburn
Acting Chairwoman
The Honorable Brian Higgins
U.S. House of Representatives
2459 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Higgins:
Thank you for your lette~ requesting that the Commission issue a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking regardingl the Sports Blackout Rule. I appreciate your interest in
this matter and am pleased to pr?vide the enclosed letter on this issue from the Chief of
the Media Bureau's Office ofC?mmunications and Industry Information.
i
If you have any additioIl!lI questions or need further assistance, please do not
hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Enclosure
445 12th Slrte! S.W. Washington. D.C. 20554 (202) 418·1000
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
September 11, 2013
IN REPLY REFER TO:
CN-1300891
The Honorable Brian Higgins
U.S. House of Representatives
2459 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Higgins:
Thank you for your follow-up letter requesting that the Commission issue a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking concerning the Sports Blackout Rule. Your views are very important to
the Commission and, as with your prior correspondence, your most recent letter will be included
in the record of the proceeding.
The Public Notice that the Commission's Media Bureau issued last yeat regatding the
Sports Blackout Rule generated considerable public interest. The Media Bureau has completed
its evaluation of the record developed in the proceeding and is preparing a recommendation for
the full Commission. Upon review of the Bureau's recommendation, the Commission will
determine what action, if any, to take next.
As you may know, after the period for the submission of public comments in the Sports
Blackout proceeding closed, the NFL revised its Sports Blackout policy. Under the new policy,
NFL teams have the option of lifting blackouts in their local matkets if 85 percent of game
tickets have been sold. The new policy may result in fewer blackouts of NFL games.
The Commission appreciates your interest in this matter, and please do not hesitate to
contact me if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
~lt~~( !JQ~
Michael S. Perko
Chief, Office of Communications and Industry Information
Media Bureau