Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and John McCain, R-Ariz.,...
Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and John McCain, R-Ariz., pressured NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a letter dated Wednesday to act against sports blackouts. “We ask that you capitalize on the FCC’s vote this week and voluntarily rescind your requirement that…
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local television stations blackout games that fail to sell-out,” they said (http://1.usa.gov/1vyad4N), referring to FCC action Tuesday against sports blackouts. “The NFL has received substantial benefits from the public in the form of antitrust exemptions, a specialized tax status, and direct taxpayer dollars that subsidize football arenas and stadiums. ... But, the provision of these substantial public benefits requires that the NFL meet basic obligations to the American public and loyal fans, and this includes abandoning rules that punish those same fans.” They've introduced legislation targeting sports blackouts and the NFL’s antitrust exemption and threatened that Congress may be forced to act if the NFL does not. The NFL declined comment on the letter, citing how recently it was sent.