PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 14-91
Released:  January 28, 2014
Media Bureau Announces Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines
for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Sports Blackout Rules
MB Docket No. 12-3
Comment Deadline:  February 24, 2014
Reply Comment Deadline:  March 25, 2014
On December 18, 2013, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) in 
MB Docket No. 12-3 seeking comment on its proposal to eliminate the sports blackout rules.1 The 
Commission set deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 30 and 60 days, respectively, after 
publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register.  A summary of the NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on January 24, 2014.2 Thus, comments must be submitted no later than February 24, 2014.  
Reply comments must be submitted no later than March 25, 2014.  Commenters should follow the filing 
instructions provided in paragraph 44 of the NPRM.3 The NPRM is also available on the Commission’s 
website.4
People with Disabilities:  To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities 
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Kathy Berthot, Policy Division, Media 
Bureau, 202-418-7454.
-FCC-
  
1Sports Blackout Rules, MB Docket No. 12-3, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 13-162 (rel. Dec. 18, 2013) 
(“Sports Blackout NPRM”).
2 Sports Blackout Rules, 79 Fed. Reg. 4138 (Jan. 24, 2014).  See http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-01-
24/pdf/2014-01338.pdf. 
3 See Sports Blackout NPRM at ¶ 44.  
4 See http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-13-162A1.doc (Word), 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-13-162A1.pdf (Acrobat).