FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHA I RMAN The Honorable Marcia Fudge U.S. House ofRepresentatives 2344 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Fudge: September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission's pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule. I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission' s proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC's rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. I hope this information is helpful. r~Yt:? Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHA I RMAN The Honorable G.K. Butterfield U.S. House of Representatives 2305 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Butterfield: September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission's pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule. I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission' s proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal ofthe FCC's rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. I hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, kt..t­ & ler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Andre Carson U.S. House ofRepresentatives 2453 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Carson: September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission' s pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule. I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission's proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC' s rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. I hope this information is helpful. 7kU4t Torn Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN September 30, 2014 The Honorable Donna M. Christensen U.S. House ofRepresentatives 1510 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Christensen: Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission's pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule. I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission' s proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC' s rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements . I hope this information is helpful. Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Yvette Clarke U.S. House of Representatives 2351 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Clarke: September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission' s pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule. I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission' s proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC's rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements . I hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Emanuel Cleaver U.S. House ofRepresentatives 2335 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515; Dear Representative Cleaver: September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission's pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule. I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission's proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC's rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. I hope this information is helpful. Sillcerelyltt~ -~eeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Danny K. Davis U.S. House ofRepresentatives 2159 Ray bum House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Davis : September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission's pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule . I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission's proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC's rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. I hope this information is helpful. r-Sfficerely, At t-­ -btaeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CH A IRM A N The Honorable Al Green U.S. House ofRepresentatives 2201 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Green: September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission' s pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule. I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission' s proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC's rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. I hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CH A IRMAN The Honorable Robin Kelly U.S. House ofRepresentatives 2419 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Kelly: September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission's pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule. I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission's proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC's rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. I hope this information is helpful. Sincerely,~ l&eler ,I- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Donald Payne U.S. House of Representatives 103 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Payne: September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission's pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule. I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission's proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC' s rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. I hope this information is helpful. Sillcerely,/ltt- Jlt;;eeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Bobby Rush U.S. House of Representatives 2268 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Rush: September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission's pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule. I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission' s proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staff has reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC' s rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. I hope this information is helpful. Sfficerely};tf_ ~eler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Frederica Wilson U.S. House ofRepresentatives 208 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Wilson: September 30, 2014 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission's pending proceeding regarding the sports blackout rule . I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding the Commission' s proposal to eliminate the rule. Please be assured that we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data, including comment on the specific issue you raised about whether games would remain available on over-the-air television if the rule were eliminated. Commission staffhas reviewed the record and carefully considered all of the issues and arguments raised. Taking the record into consideration, the Commission unanimously voted today to eliminate the sports blackout rule at its Open Meeting. As you may know, the Commission has acknowledged that repeal of the FCC's rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. I hope this information is helpful.