On December 3rd, Comcast announced its plans to merge with NBC Universal. The Sports Fans Coalition immediately raised questions about how the merged company will treat consumers given its history of forcing Philadelphia sports fans to buy cable to watch their local games. In Philly, Comcast owns the local sports network, cable system, broadband internet service, plus sports teams and the local arena. If the merger is approved, that raises a lot of concern for trouble in 11 TV markets, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., Houston, Miami, Denver, Hartford and Fresno.

Without penalty, Comcast currently uses local sports exclusives or the ‘terrestrial loophole’ to block its competitors from broadcasting sports games leaving many sports fans out in the cold without access to their games.

UPDATE: Thank you for signing the petition to close the terrestrial loophole on sports programming. The FCC heard your petition, and we’ve found success in this department.

The next issue of concern rests in the enforcement of the rule across the country. There should be no local sports exclusives; Comcast, Cablevision, Cox, and others, now by law, must share sports games with competitors so that you have a choice in your market, and so that you aren’t blacked out from watching your games.

Sign the petition below to light a fire under the FCC to enforce their rule pushing back on cable’s challenge in court.