Fairness Doctrine Being Pushed by New Congress
Equal Time Rules for Radio on the Table Again
Nov 30, 2008
The Fairness Doctrine has been a controversial issue since it was first created by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in 1949 and abolished in 1987. Even when it was enacted by Congress, both President Reagan and Bush vetoed it. Now it may be considered once again as Democrats take over Congress and the Presidency in 2009.
Democrat Senators Push for Enactment
Influential Democrats, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with Senators Barbara Boxer and Chuck Schumer, are likely to bring up the Fairness Doctrine in the next session of Congress. Because it is estimated that conservative talk show hosts outnumber liberals by a 10-to-1 ratio, they want government mandated program restrictions that would make radio talk shows "fair and balanced" with both sides of controversial subjects being discussed.
Obama's Choices Determine Outcome
President-elect Barack Obama will likely name a new FCC chairman which would make Democrats a majority on the five-person panel for the first time in eight years. According to Reuters (11/26/08), Obama has already called on Henry Rivera, who was a commissioner in th 1980's when the Fairness Doctrine was in place, to oversee the FCC transition process. He is a supporter of bringing back the provisions. John Podesta, who heads the liberal think tank, the Center for American Progress (CAP), is on the overall transition team. This at least signifies that Obama is interested in perhaps bringing back the Fairness Doctrine or something like it: localism.
Fairness Doctrine by any Other Name
Conservative talk show hosts think that the term "localism" is just another name for the Fairness Doctrine. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck are among those already ready to fight to keep talk radio as it is. They consider "localism" a back door through which conservatives would be shoved out and replaced by liberals for balance.
Localism Define
Other objections to "localism" are that the FCC would consider such things as "community advisory boards" made up of local officials and other community leaders. They would tell radio broadcasters whether or not they were meeting the needs of the community, subject to the board's interpretation. The boards could also levy fines against broadcasters for not following the rules.
A report, issued by the CAP, "The Structure of Imbalance of Political Talk Radio" suggested that radio broadcast licenses be renewed every three years instead of the present eight, and those not operating "on behalf of the public interest" be denied licenses or be fined. These fines would go to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), National Public Radio (NPR). This could transfer $250 million as a transfer from private radio companies to the CPB.
Opposition to Fairness Doctrine or Localism
Some radio executives think that fines would effect problems that radio stations are already having because of reduced advertising revenue in a slowing economy. Michael Medved is one of the conservative talk show hosts that thinks that the Fairness Doctrine or localism would be a threat because the FCC could introduce either one and it would not be trampling on free speech. The National Association of Broadcasters is also against the enactment by the FCC or Congress for the same reason.
The issue of the Fairness Doctrine has come up during almost every Congressional session since it was first enacted. Whether the election of a Democrat majority in the House and Senate and a President of the same party will bring it back will be seen during the next four years.
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