02-28-12;01 :60PM; ;202-22e-0347 # 1/
REVITALIZING OLOER CITIES
TASK FORCE
Julius ='Chowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
BRIAN HIGGINS
271)4 DlSTJltICT, NIW YORK
COMMITTEE ON HOMELANO SECURITY
SUlCOMMITTU ON
BoNJIII AND MAftlTI.. Slc:uJlITV
SUKOMMITTII ON COUNmftMOfllSM
AND INlnuoINCI
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SueeoMMlTTlI ON 1)4.
MIooLE EAST AND Sot..ml AsIA
SUlICOMMrT11I ON TIMoR"..,
NONHIOU,.""TlOfrf AND TJIADI
Dear Chairman Genachowski,
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8all\Jin\tton. :me: 20515-3227
February 28, 2012
WASHINGTON OFFICE:
2459 RAVllUJlN HOUSE OFfICE BUIt.ClNG
WASHINGTON, DC 20&115
(202) 22i--330e
(2fl2l 22&-0347 IfAX)
WlmlUl NIW VOJlIC OFl"lCEI:
1AIUClN BUlLDlNO
728 ExcHANIIl! 8Tfl!l!T
SlXIli fI01
BuJfALO. NY 14210
(718' 852-3501
(718) 152-.3928IFAX)
FtNTOH BulLDING
2 EAST 2ND SlNIIT
S....,..3OO
JAMUTOWN. NY 14701
(71el484-0728
~~ ~~''n(~OJ6&
I am writing to respond to the National Football Leagues' (NFL) statement ofopposition during the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) comment period on a petition urging the elimination of sports blackout
rules.
As you know, I recently joined several of my colleagues in the House ofRepresentatives to express concern that
blackout policies do not fairly serve the public who invest substantial tax dollars towards the construction and
maintenance ofstadia. As Western New Yorkers may soon be asked to provide public funds to upgrade Buffalo's
Ralph Wilson Stadium, I again urge the FCC and the NFL to eliminate their blackout policies.
The NFL's defense of the blackout rule cites the rule's financial significance, yet evidence is insufficient as the
League does not publicly release financial statements. The NFL is a multibillion dollar business and it is
important to understand what financial sources add to its incredible value.
Many of the nation's top academic economists, including Roger Noll of Stanford University, submitted to the
FCC findings that "local television blackouts bave little or no effect on ticket sales or attendance for the game that
is being televised." Further, they concluded that "local blackouts of home games harm consumers without
producing a significant financial benefit to teams." Their findings revealCd that ticket sales account for only 20%
of the League's revenue, even as the NFL has the highest average ticket price ofall professional sports at $75­
and an estimated 60% ofLeague revenue is from game broadcasts.
The value ofthe League was substantially enhanced by televising games. Decades old blackout rules created
before the League achieved its current popularity and financial stability do not increase game attendance and are
not fair to a public that commits substantial tax dollars to the construction and maintenance ofstadia across the
nation.
I again urge the FCC and NFL to abandon its decades old blackout rules. Thank you for your attention to this
matter.
Sinc~~~~Higgins »
Member ofCongress
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