Yesterday, we noted that legislative efforts to force Comcast’s hand on airing MASN broadcasts of Nationals games were picking up steam. Sure enough, the D.C. Council considered and passed emergency legislation sponsored by Jack Evans and Vincent Orange that requires Comcast to air those broadcasts or renegotiate its franchise agreement with the District. According to the Washington Business Journal, the legislation will become official in two weeks, barring a mayoral veto.

Of course, that could mean precisely nothing.

Comcast released a statement yesterday calling the Council’s legislation illegal, as local governments are prohibited by Federal Law from dictating programming content. It seems likely, therefore, that all we’ll have to show for this Act, in two weeks, will be a lawsuit. Said Comcast:

We appreciate the attempt by the Council to help find a viable compromise, and the recognition of most members of the Council that pressure needs to be applied on Peter Angelos in order to resolve this dispute. We share the Council’s frustration with the current situation but believe that its decision to adopt this legislation may only prolong the unfortunate dispute that is keeping the Nationals off of local cable television. Further, as experts have pointed out, this legislation will not have any legal effect as local government efforts to mandate programming are clearly impermissible under federal law.

Legal hurdles aside, Comcast has to sense the public pressure building. With an official D.C. Council statement on the books and an angry Tom Davis ready to wield the power of the U.S. Congress, it’s hard to imagine Comcast continuing to hold to an increasingly isolated position.