Free Press: The Fairness Doctrine Distraction
For reasons that appear unrelated to any pressing policy decision, the Congress is engaged in a debate over whether to reinstate a long-defunct broadcast regulation known as the Fairness Doctrine.
Established in 1949 and repealed in 1987, the Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to cover issues of local importance and to offer a balance of perspectives. Strong feelings are held about whether it worked, whether it benefited the public interest, and whether it could legally coexist with the First Amendment. ...
We encourage the Congress and the administration to leave the debate over the Fairness Doctrine in the past and pursue policies that have sound legal, economic, and public interest footing. There is much that could be done to promote speech in our media marketplace – but the Fairness Doctrine is just a distraction.
