[January 21, 2012] Blackout rules for NFL games studied by FCC Tweet WASHINGTON, Jan 21, 2012 (The Buffalo News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Fans of the Buffalo Bills and other teams frequently subjected to television blackout rules soon may get a reprieve -- and critics of the rules are encouraging fans to make their voices heard in support of changes in a longtime federal policy that prevents satellite and cable broadcasters from airing games that are not sold out. Doing so could make a difference as the Federal Communications Commission considers altering or eliminating its four-decade-old blackout rules, said Brian Frederick, executive director of the Sports Fans Coalition. "For the next month, fans will have the opportunity to speak up about blackouts and actually be heard," Frederick said on his organization's website this week. The FCC announced last week that it is reconsidering its rule that forces cable and satellite TV providers to black out sporting events if games don't sell out. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, also asked fans to contact the federal agency to tell officials what they think. "I sent a letter to the FCC chairman asking that he eliminate this unfair rule, which does not provide for individual solutions to different local markets," said Higgins, D-Buffalo. "The FCC has opened a public comment period on this matter, and I urge fans who feel similarly to do the same." The NFL's television contracts bar local stations from airing games that are not sold out 72 hours before kickoff. Since 1973, the FCC has had a rule in place that bars cable and satellite broadcasters from airing games locally if they are not sold out. But FCC Commissioner Robert M. McDowell said in a statement that it's time to take a fresh look at that rule. "We now live in a world with not only local broadcast stations, but also cable, satellite, the Internet and wireless, and where television and merchandising revenues exceed ticket sales," McDowell said. "It is appropriate for us to re-examine the rule in light of marketplace changes." In a letter to the FCC, Higgins noted that Bills fans are hit more than those of other teams by the blackout rules. That's because Ralph Wilson Stadium has an unusually large capacity of 73,000 -- 6,000 more than the average league attendance -- making it more difficult to get a sellout. "Last year almost half of Bills home games were blacked out," Higgins said on the House floor. "This is unacceptable." Higgins encouraged fans to comment on the blackout rule to the FCC electronically at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Alternatively, letters can be sent to: Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary Federal Communications Commission Office of the Secretary 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 The FCC is seeking comments through Feb. 13 -- and the NFL and other sports leagues are sure to oppose any changes. Last summer, the NFL told the FCC in a filing that changes "would gut the purpose of the rule and create perverse incentives for (cable and satellite TV providers) to engage in brinkmanship tactics in order to take advantage of the proposed exception to the sports blackout rule." [email protected] ___ (c)2012 The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.) Visit The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.) at www.buffalonews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]