The NFL Is Publicly Responding To The FCC's Complaints

The National Football League has launched a public attack in response to the FCC's complaints.

The FCC is going after the NFL and other sports leagues, believing that it's become too hard for sports fans to watch games. You now need to have network TV channels, cable TV channels and a bunch of streaming platforms to keep up with things.

"Indeed, more than 8,000 people have submitted comments at the FCC - with 98% of those comments expressing frustration with the streaming migration trend and their hope that broadcast will remain the pre-eminent platform for watching their favorite team," FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty said. "Getting broadcast policy right includes empowering broadcasters to respond to this widely felt consumer need and ensure broadcasters' continued ability to serve local communities not only through sports but other programming, as well."

The NFL, though, believes that consumers have extremely fair access to their sport. They are firing back.

"Since its founding, the NFL has strived to put its fans at the center of everything we do," the primary source document from the league states, per a report. "Nowhere is that more evident than in the NFL's media distribution strategy, which for more than 50 years has served as a foundation and catalyst for the League's growth and popularity.

"While nothing can replace the excitement of attending a game, the vast majority of fans rely on this media distribution model to watch live games and follow the sport they love."

The NFL believes its current model is 'necessary'

The league believes that everything it is doing, as far as media rights are concerned, is very necessary.

"The NFL is essentially trying to frame its current media model as a necessity for keeping the game accessible before the FCC can move to regulate how these billion-dollar rights deals are structured," Outkick reported.

"Carr was not present for the entire meeting with the NFL, per a source. But he did greet the league's contingent before turning the meeting over to the group of his top advisors."

It'll be fascinating to see how this plays out.

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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 8:00 PM.