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e-ACTIVIST ALERT
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H.R. 226, S 34; the Broadcaster Freedom Act
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After you have read the following sample letter, you may send it to your Representatives along with any additional comments that you add. To send the letter below as an email, copy/paste the sample text into your Senators' or Representatives' contact form. Use the form at the bottom of this page to find your Representative.
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Beginning in 1949, the Federal Communications Commission and its precursor developed and enforced the so-called Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to present controversial issues in a fair and balanced manner. But there's nothing fair about the Fairness Doctrine. To avoid administrative costs and hours of paperwork and legal fees, broadcasters opted to offer noncontroversial programming. As a result, talk radio, as we know it today, simply did not exist.
Recognizing the chilling effect that the regulation was having on broadcast freedom, the FCC began to overturn its own ruling on the Fairness Doctrine in 1985. Following that change in policy and President Reagan’s veto of attempts to reinstate it, the results have been dramatic.
The lifting of the Fairness Doctrine opened the public airwaves to a free and vigorous discussion of controversial issues that never existed before its repeal. When Rush Limbaugh began his legendary career, there were 125 talk radio stations in America. Today there are 2,000. While Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and other conservative giants dominate the national syndicated market, many moderate and liberal programs succeed admirably at the local level.
Bringing back the Fairness Doctrine would amount to government control over political views expressed on the public airwaves. It is dangerous to suggest the government should be in the business of rationing free speech.
The Broadcaster Freedom Act will prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from prescribing rules, regulations, or policies that will reinstate the requirement that broadcasters present opposing viewpoints in controversial issues of public importance. The Broadcaster Freedom Act will prevent the FCC or any future President from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine.
Thanks to the strong support of Minority Leader John Boehner, Minority Whip Roy Blunt and radio station owner and broadcaster Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the Broadcaster Freedom Act is now cosponsored by all of the 202 Republican members of the House. This unanimous Republican support for any measure is rare and demonstrates the GOP's strong opposition to broadcast censorship.
In the Senate, Sen. Norm Coleman, Sen. Jim DeMint, Sen. John Thune and Sen. Jim Inhofe have been leading the charge for broadcast freedom. Sen. Coleman introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act as an amendment twice, only to be filibustered on the Senate floor. These Republican leaders, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, should be commended for their strong stand against censorship of the airwaves.
The time has come to do away with the Fairness Doctrine once and for all. The Broadcaster Freedom Act would ensure that no future president could regulate the airwaves of America without an act of Congress and it should be sent to the president's desk.
Scroll down to take action by sending an email to your representative and senators in Congress telling them to support passage of H.R. 226 and S 34 in both Houses of Congress.
Be sure to personalize the pre-written message to ensure the maximum impact. Please feel free to edit the pre-written message.
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The so-called "Fairness Doctrine" is extremely dangerous legislation. It would have a chilling effect on the free speech of most media outlets. It contradicts the constitutional principle of free speech and our First Amendment rights.
I urge you to use your full influence, on my behalf, to keep any form of this legislation from being considered and to stand in full support of House Resolution 226 and Senate Bill 34, the Broadcaster Freedom Act.
The Fairness Doctrine, in any form, is unconstitutional. It deserves no place in the American landscape, apart from its place in failed history.
Uphold and preserve constitutional free speech for all.
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