Fairness Doctrine. During consideration of the omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 1105), Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) offered an amendment to prohibit the use of funding in the bill to reinstitute a Federal Communications Commission rule known as the “Fairness Doctrine.” Under this doctrine, which the FCC itself abolished in 1987, radio and television broadcasters were required to air opposing viewpoints on controversial issues. The rule had the effect of encouraging broadcasters to minimize controversial programming so as to avoid providing free air time for opposing viewpoints. And it inhibited free speech in the same way that an extension of the Fairness Doctrine to magazines or newspapers would have inhibited the ability of publishers to express their beliefs.
The Senate rejected Thune’s amendment on March 10, 2009, by a vote of 47-50 (Roll Call 92). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine would be an unconstitutional infringement on the right to free speech.
