FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON O F FI CE O F T HE C H AIRMAN The Honorable Brian Higgins U.S. House of Representatives 2459 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Higgins: August 14, 20 14 Thank you for your letter expressing your views on the Commission's pending proceeding regarding its sports blackout rules. I appreciate your long-standing interest in this ISSUe. I share your desire for a quick resolution to this pending proceeding. Although the Commission was unable to take up the issue at our August meeting, the Media Bureau staff is working to provide recommendations for the full Commission's consideration by early fall. As you indicate, the Commission unanimously proposed to eliminate the sports blackout rules at the end oflast year, and we have conducted an open and transparent proceeding to collect additional data. In addition to assessing whether there is still a need for the rules, we also sought comment on our authority to eliminate them, as well as the impact of such action. As you are aware , the Commission has acknowledged that repealing the FCC' s rules alone may not end blackouts, but it would leave carriage issues to privately negotiated arrangements. We will keep you updated on the status of the proceeding as we move to resolution in the near term. Sincerely, --:;;;;-/£/- Tom Wheeler