Senate Version of Broadcaster Freedom Act

Introduced: January 05, 2009
Status: Introduced
Next step: Voted on by Senate
Latest action: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 12.
Sponsor: Sen. Jim DeMint [R, SC]
A BILL
To prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating the fairness doctrine.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009’.
SEC. 2. FAIRNESS DOCTRINE PROHIBITED.
Title III of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by inserting after section 303 (47 U.S.C. 303) the following new section:
‘SEC. 303A. LIMITATION ON GENERAL POWERS: FAIRNESS DOCTRINE.
‘Notwithstanding section 303 or any other provision of this Act or any other Act authorizing the Commission to prescribe rules, regulations, policies, doctrines, standards, or other requirements, the Commission shall not have the authority to prescribe any rule, regulation, policy, doctrine, standard, or other requirement that has the purpose or effect of reinstating or repromulgating (in whole or in part) the requirement that broadcasters present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the ‘Fairness Doctrine’, as repealed in General Fairness Doctrine Obligations of Broadcast Licensees, 50 Fed. Reg. 35418 (1985).’.
Calendar No. 12

This is the second time this bill has been introduced. It was introduced in 2008.

“A basic principle of our democracy is a press that is free of government influence or control. It is shameful that some now believe the federal government should dictate to Texans what they can say and when on the airwaves,” U.S. Sen. Cornyn said. “If reinstated, the ‘Fairness Doctrine’ would be a direct assault on one of this nation’s most cherished freedoms. This important legislation will ensure that all ideas can be expressed openly and freely on our nation’s airwaves.”

Democrat leaders in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate have expressed support for reinstating the “Fairness Doctrine,” which was repealed some 20 years ago. This was an obsolete federal regulation that, until its repeal in 1987, required broadcasters to air all sides of controversial issues, regardless of listener choice, or risk the loss of their broadcast license.


This Senate version is meant to prevent another bout of McCarthyism, which is the era this law came from. If the Democratic Party prevents its passage, I hope they live to see the day that they suffer under it.Feel free to check out former 1968 Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson begins with a great speech from 1968. The video ends with a short discussion of Barack Obama's attempt to limit the Freedoms of the Press.

It is a the Fairness Doctrine, Ezra Benson to Barack Obama