Remarks On Sports Blackout Rule

In late 2013, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it would consider eliminating its sports blackout rule.

League blackout policies can prohibit local television broadcast stations from airing games. And if the local stations can’t broadcast it, the FCC’s blackout rule prohibits cable and satellite companies (within a local blackout zone) from carrying it.

This hurts fans who can’t go to the game. After carefully reviewing all of the arguments, I don’t believe the government should intervene in the marketplace and help sports leagues enforce their blackout policies.

Our job is to serve the public interest, not the private interests of team owners. So I’m asking the FCC to hold an up-or-down vote on ending the sports blackout rule.