PRINTER'S NO. 4086
No. 553 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY CARN, ROBINSON, TRICH, PRESTON, JAMES, KIRKLAND,
YOUNGBLOOD, PESCI, MYERS AND WALKO, NOVEMBER 16, 1998
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, NOVEMBER 16, 1998
A RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing Congress to enact legislation to prohibit the
2 local television blackout and the assessment of an additional
3 fee known as pay-per-view for sporting events originating
4 from publicly or partially publicly funded stadiums and
5 arenas.
6 WHEREAS, Professional sports events often create tremendous
7 civic pride, unity and goodwill; and
8 WHEREAS, Professional sports events are often a source of
9 family entertainment and provide positive publicity and exposure
10 for the local community, region and State; and
11 WHEREAS, The price of admission to many professional sports
12 events has escalated dramatically over the last two decades, and
13 the cost of attending many professional sports events is
14 unaffordable for significant numbers of families in this
15 Commonwealth and across the nation; and
16 WHEREAS, The United States has experienced a tremendous surge
17 in the construction of athletic stadiums and arenas over the
18 last decade; and
19 WHEREAS, The cost of constructing and maintaining athletic
1 stadiums and arenas has exploded during this time period; and
2 WHEREAS, State and local governments across the nation have
3 received and granted requests to utilize significant amounts of
4 public funds for the construction of stadiums and arenas over
5 the last decade; and
6 WHEREAS, Cable television providers often charge an
7 additional fee known as pay-per-view for sporting events; and
8 WHEREAS, Certain television broadcasts of local professional
9 sports events are prohibited or blacked out as a result of
10 failure to meet a prescribed level of ticket sales; and
11 WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States acted during the
12 1970s to require the local broadcast of National Football League
13 contests that are sold out 72 hours prior to the start of the
14 contests; therefore be it
15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
16 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strongly urge Congress to enact
17 legislation that would prevent the local television blackout or
18 the assessment of a cable television pay-per-view fee for
19 sporting events originating from publicly or partially publicly
20 funded stadiums and arenas; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
22 the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
23 member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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