• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, August 4, 2006

Score one for the NFL Network. The Federal Communications Commission has ordered Time Warner Cable to return the network to recently acquired systems in several large markets after yanking it off the air Aug. 1.

In its initial decision, the FCC implied that Time Warner Cable violated FCC rules by dropping the network without providing subscribers with 30 days notice. Until the FCC issues a final ruling, TWC must reinstate the network in markets such as Buffalo, Cleveland and Dallas.

TWC doesn't offer NFLN on any of its systems, due to an inability to agree on carriage terms. It pulled the network from systems once affiliated with Adelphia and Comcast.

Under the FCC ruling--to which TWC has until Aug. 15 to respond--it appears that TWC can move to discontinue carriage--as long as it provides the 30 days notice. The FCC maintains the 30-day rule to allow frustrated customers time to complain and/or switch services, such as to a satellite provider.

The FCC ruling came after the league-owned NFLN's parent company filed a complaint.

TWC pulled the network at the beginning of a hugely important month for the programmer, which will air 54 preseason games. The FCC deemed the games and training-camp coverage so important that "each day Time Warner customers go without the NFL Network significantly and irreparably harms many of them, particularly those in Buffalo, Cleveland, and Dallas, each of which is home to an NFL team."