BURLINGTON, Vt.—Vermont's congressional delegation is protesting a plan by the National Football League to broadcast the New England Patriots-New York Giants game set for Dec. 29 on the NFL Network, which is not available on most of Vermont's cable television systems.

"The NFL should be flagged for interference on this one. It's too bad they don't know their audience better," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. Leahy joined Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., in writing to NFL Commission Roger Goodell about the issue.

The Network has been battling with several major cable television companies, with the league saying it should be part of the cable companies' regular programming lineup and the cable companies saying the league has rights to carry its games too expensive.

The New York Times reported that the NFL is charging cable companies 70 cents per subscriber per month, making it more costly than CNN, CNBC, Discovery Channel and others.

Fans in New York and Boston will be able to see the game for free, but cable subscribers in Vermont and other parts of New England will be shut out. The game is available on some satellite services.