The FCC voted to unanimously strike down the "blackout rule" -- which prevents the national broadcasting of NFL games if the attendance isn't high enough -- in the hopes that NFL will stop holding its fans hostage in exchange for obscenely expensive tickets.

Games can still be "blacked out" in local markets, but the change in policy removes the government mandate that bans major networks from broadcasting those games nationally.

[Politico] “It’s a simple fact, the federal government should not be party to sports teams keeping their fans from viewing the games — period,” said Democratic FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. “For 40 years these teams have hidden behind a rule of the FCC. No more. Everyone needs to be aware of who allows blackouts to exist, and it is not the Federal Communications Commission.”

The NFL has argued this policy is a way to keep football a part of "free" TV, which of course is total bullshit because the league's current TV deal last for another six years so a change to a pay-per-view-type model isn't actually in the cards. Clearly, the NFL has used the blackout rule as a way to punish fans for low attendance while hiding behind the 40-year-old law. Going forward, responsibility for any and all blacked out games will rest squarely on the shoulders of Roger Goodell -- a man now infamous for NOT watching things.