Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate have reintroduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act, which would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reinstating the so-called Fairness Doctrine.
Congressional Democrats have threatened to reinstate the doctrine, which was put in place by the FCC in 1949 to force the nation’s TV and radio broadcasters to provide "balance" on controversial issues. It was dropped as new technologies offered an abundance of sources for information.
“Bringing back the Fairness Doctrine today would amount to government control over political views expressed on the public airwaves," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., who reintroduced the bill in the House. "I believe it is dangerous to suggest that government should be in the business of rationing free speech."
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In his Stoplight® video commentary, Stuart Shepard discusses the Fairness Doctrine with his liberal alter ego.
— Josh Montez
