Obama says NO to FD

[TheBigA]

President Obama opposes any move to bring back the so-called Fairness Doctrine, a spokesman told FOXNews.com Wednesday. The statement is the first definitive stance the administration has taken since an aide told an industry publication last summer that Obama opposes the doctrine -- a long-abolished policy that would require broadcasters to provide opposing viewpoints on controversial issues. "As the president stated during the campaign, he does not believe the Fairness Doctrine should be reinstated," White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said.

 

[raccoonradio]

Senate tables FD for now

For now it looks like the Senate may have tabled the revival of the Fairness Doctrine. The vote may have been 87-11
(not sure). Who knows, could be other attempts later (localism action?) by the FCC once Democrats get more members...?

http://www.*************/article.php?id=D96JF8V00&show_article=1

"The Senate has barred federal regulators from reviving a policy, abandoned two decades ago, that required balanced coverage of issues on public airwaves." The article also points out that the abundance of various media makes enforcement "unneccesary", thus
the F.C.C.'s abandonment of it in 1987.

 

[raccoonradio]

More details:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/26/demint-tries-prevent-fairness-doctrine-revival/

FAIRNESS DOCTRINE: Senate vote to bar the Fairness Doctrine was 87-11, however it's unclear
if this amendment--attached to a D.C. voting rights bill--will survive. This is Sen
Jim DeMint's bill, but:

LOCALISM: Another bill, sponsored by Sen Dick Durbin, won 57-41 --an attempt to break
up big companies like Clear Channel. Some are calling this a back door attempt to
bring back the Fairness Doctrine

 

[TheBigA]

Durbin's action was an amendment, not a bill. Here's what it says:

"To encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership, and to ensure that the public airwaves are used in the public interest."

I don't see how this brings back the FD.

 

[TexasTom]

I agree -- I don't see how "localism" would bring back the Fairness Doctrine, either.

What it does seem like is an opening for tightening ownership limit, imposing expanded local staffing requirements, or bringing back "community ascertainment". Some of which (ownership limits) could be good, some of which (increased staffing requirements) could be not so good.

 

[TheBigA]

What it does seem like is an opening for tightening ownership limit

Nope. All it does is restate FCC policy encouraging minorities and women to apply for broadcast licenses.

The word "Localism" (or anything similar to it) does not appear in the amendment.

 

[DoctorWu]

Durbin's action was an amendment, not a bill. Here's what it says:

"To encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership, and to ensure that the public airwaves are used in the public interest."

Uncle Charlie has been "encouraging and promoting diversity" for three decades now. And Durbin feels the need to restate this now because....?

- Doc

 

[JimmyJames]

Because it obviously hasn't happened, and you'd know that if you turned on your radio in most markets in this country.