[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 18, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H43]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BUFFALO BILLS BLACKOUTS

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss an issue of great 
importance to western New York, the Buffalo Bills.
  The Bills have one of the most dedicated fan bases of any football 
franchise in the entire country. Since 1960, Bills fans have embraced 
and supported the team, both emotionally and financially. Today, the 
Buffalo Bills franchise is an integral part of the New York State 
economy. But harsh blackout provisions threaten New Yorkers' ability to 
watch their team on television.
  The blackout rule requires that a stadium be sold out 72 hours in 
advance in order to broadcast a football game locally. In Buffalo, this 
means that, in order to avoid a blackout, the Bills must sell more 
tickets than the league average in one of the league's smallest 
markets. Last year, almost half of the Bills' home games were blacked 
out. This is unacceptable.
  This morning 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. The FCC has opened a public 
comment period on this matter, and I urge fans who feel similarly to do 
the same. In the meantime, I will continue this fight.

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