PRINTER'S NO. 2798
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 358
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MADSEN, MARCH 26, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
UTILITIES, MARCH 26, 2024
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Federal Communications Commission to collaborate with
2 the National Football League and national broadcast partners
3 to develop a system where fan input is considered when
4 assigning secondary market broadcasts.
5 WHEREAS, In 2014, the Federal Communications Commission
6 repealed its sports blackout rules, which had prohibited cable
7 and satellite operators from airing any sports events that were
8 blacked out on a local broadcast station; and
9 WHEREAS, Since 2014, due to the nature of the National
10 Football League's broadcast deals, regional coverage is dictated
11 by the league's national broadcast partners transmitting
12 different games to different markets based on secondary market
13 assignments; and
14 WHEREAS, Secondary market assignments are adjoining markets
15 assigned at the discretion of the National Football League; and
16 WHEREAS, Secondary markets often are forced to view teams
17 that do not have a large following in these markets; and
18 WHEREAS, Central Pennsylvania has a large population of
19 Pittsburgh Steelers fans, however due to secondary market
 1 assignments, often Baltimore Ravens games are broadcast, with
2 similar situations occurring in northeast Pennsylvania where
3 Philadelphia Eagles fans miss out on games because New York
4 teams are featured instead; and
5 WHEREAS, Secondary market decisions not only affect dedicated
6 fans, but also have adverse financial effects on the earnings of
7 broadcast stations forced to carry less popular teams; and
8 WHEREAS, Local bars and eating establishments suffer
9 hardships that damage their bottom line when fans stay away on
10 game day; and
11 WHEREAS, The thoughts of Pennsylvania football fans deserve
12 to be recognized by the entities making the decisions in
13 televising National Football League games; therefore be it
14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
15 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Federal Communications
16 Commission to collaborate with the National Football League and
17 national broadcast partners to develop a system where fan input
18 is considered when assigning secondary market broadcasts.
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