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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills owner Ralph Wilson is encouraged that the NFL is taking significant steps to help preserve its small-market franchises.

Wilson said Tuesday he was "comforted" after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell issued a memo that, for the first time, outlined a formula of how teams will pay into the new revenue-sharing program. Key for Wilson: The program would include a $100 million pool for this season and sticks closely to the model owners approved when they ratified the league's collective bargaining agreement in March.

Wilson feared the pay-in formula would not reflect the needs of small-market franchises or would be a watered-down version of what was approved. That would jeopardize the long-term viability of teams such as the Bills.

"It's a positive step for the NFL," Wilson said.

Wilson also commended Goodell for recognizing the importance of revenue sharing and its value in maintaining a competitive balance between the league's richer and poorer teams. Goodell took over in September following Paul Tagliabue's retirement.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed Goodell distributed the memo to the league's 32 teams Monday. Aiello noted the memo is significant because it formally establishes the revenue-sharing program in writing.

The league already shares certain revenues, but this new system would allow small-market teams to draw money from what's called a supplemental pool funded mostly by top revenue-generating clubs.

The next step -- and it's potentially a huge one -- is determining how to distribute the money and which teams will qualify.

The NFL is preparing a revenue-sharing report, which will be presented when the owners meet Oct. 24. That report will then go to an eight-member committee that includes Wilson to make recommendations.

The recommendations must be passed by at least 24 of the 32 owners. If not approved, the commissioner has the authority to make the final determination.

Some fear a deadlock could indefinitely delay the revenue-sharing program.

Revenue-sharing has been Wilson's top concern since the league ratified its CBA, extending labor peace through 2012.

The Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals voted against the deal. And Wilson has since raised concerns that the agreement establishes an unequal playing field between large- and small-market teams because it produces an equal allocation of player costs with an unequal allocation of revenues.

Wilson is also scheduled to meet with Goodell next month.

New York Sen. Charles Schumer has joined Wilson in his campaign and spent the past six months pressuring the NFL to implement a fair revenue-sharing program. Schumer, who shared the podium with Wilson during Tuesday's news conference, referred to Goodell's memo as progress.

"When the new CBA came into effect, we were really worried that either revenue sharing would go by the boards or it would be done in such a half-baked way that small-market teams couldn't survive," Schumer said. "The commissioner, in his statements yesterday and the initial readings we get, understands ... there needs to be real revenue sharing and not just crumbs."

Schumer announced plans to form a coalition of fellow senators, representing small-market NFL teams, to ensure their franchises remain viable.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press