Fan group optimistic FCC will review National Football League blackout rule

A coalition representing sports fans is optimistic the Federal Communications Commission will review a decades-old rule that allows the National Football League to ban television providers from carrying home games locally.

The Sports Fan Coalition filed a petition for Rulemaking with the FCC last week urging the agency to end its local sports blackout rule adopted in 1975 at the request of the sports leagues and broadcasters. The NFL's policy bans local broadcast stations within 75 miles of stadiums from showing games that aren't sold out. The FCC's rule prohibits cable, satellite, Internet and other providers in the same area from carrying the blacked-out games. Eight games had been blacked out this season as of last week, while the last two seasons saw 26 and 23 blackouts respectively. (11/20)