FCC Seeks Comment on Elimination of the Sports Blackout Rule

A group of petitioners have filed a Petition for Rulemaking asking the Federal Communications Commission to eliminate the FCC’s rules regarding sports blackouts, which prohibit MVPDs from carrying a sporting event if the event is blacked out on local broadcast television stations. The petitioners claim that the FCC should eliminate the sports blackout rules because the rules prevent consumers’ access to local sports events, particularly with ticket prices and unemployment at their current high levels. The petitioners also argue that sports leagues could privately negotiate the same results that the rule affords, and therefore the FCC’s rules, which tacitly endorse these private contracts, are unnecessary. Finally, the Petitioners assert that the FCC has the authority to make this rule change. With this Public Notice, the FCC seeks comment on this petition and announce the pleading cycle during which comments and replies may be filed.