Fairness Doctrine

- First adopted in 1949
- An FCC report in 1985 found the policy may infringe upon the First Amendment
- A Supreme Court decision found that the FCC had a general right to enforce the doctrine in areas where channels were limited The Times-Gazette: Fairness Doctrine attacks free speech (March 3, 2009)
- In 1987, FCC abolished the doctrine
- Nancy Pelosi, Trent Lott and John Kerry are among those who have expressed support of a reinstatementToledo Blade: Some Democrats hope to reinstate Fairness Doctrine (February 15, 2009)
- President Barack Obama has said he does not support a reinstitutionFox News: Senate Backs Amendment to Prevent 'Fairness Doctrine' Revival (February 26, 2009)
- Republican Senator Jim DeMint attached an amendment that would make the doctrine illegal to a bill proposing to give Washington, D.C. a vote in the SenateFox News: Senate Backs Amendment to Prevent 'Fairness Doctrine' Revival (February 26, 2009)
- Another amendment to outlaw the bill was also added to a spending bill debated in the Senate in March 2009Nasdaq: US Sen Thune Seeks Second Vote To Ban 'Fairness Doctrine' (March 3, 2009)

The Fairness Doctrine is a defunct FCC policy that mandated that all broadcasts present issues of public importance equitably from contrasting points of view.
Some Democrats have proposed reinstating the doctrine. On February 26, 2009, the U.S. Senate approved an amendment that would make the doctrine illegal. The amendment was attached to a bill proposing to give District of Columbia a voting representative in the Senate and will become law is the bill is passed.Fox News: Senate Backs Amendment to Prevent 'Fairness Doctrine' Revival (February 26, 2009) The bill was passed by the Senate, but a vote on the bill in the House was delayed on March 3, 2009 after a firearm provision was also added to the bill.Fox News: Firearm Provision Blows Up D.C. Voting Rights Bill (March 3, 2009)
Recent Developments

An amendment to outlaw the bill was added to a proposed bill to give Washington, D.C. voting rights. The amendment was created after several Democrats recently proposed reinstating the bill.Fox News: Senate Backs Amendment to Prevent 'Fairness Doctrine' Revival (February 26, 2009) The amendment passed in the Senate 87-11 together with the D.C. House Voting Rights Act. It will become law if the bill is passed.Fox News: Senate Backs Amendment to Prevent 'Fairness Doctrine' Revival (February 26, 2009) Democratic Senator Richard Durbin introduced an alternate amendment. Durbin's amendment, which also passed, would require that the FCC encourages radio ownership "diversity".Fox News: Senate Backs Amendment to Prevent 'Fairness Doctrine' Revival (February 26, 2009)A vote on the DC Voting Rights bill was delayed in the House on March 3, 2009 due to the addition of a firearms provision.Fox News: Firearm Provision Blows Up D.C. Voting Rights Bill (March 3, 2009)
Media Bias

According to media analysts, radio and television airwaves are the driving force behind manipulating public opinion. Since the dissolution of the Fairness Doctrine, experts claim that 25% of broadcast stations no longer provide programs aimed at informing local audiences regarding public affairs.CommonDreams.org: Text (February 12, 2005) Experts have also claimed that that the lack of mandated balance in the media has lead to increased conservative bias in programing.CommonDreams.org: Text (February 12, 2005)
The Public and the Fairness Doctrine
Rasmussen Reports polled Americans in July 2007 and again in August 2008, asking whether they believed the government should require radio, television, and the Internet to offer equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary. In July of 2007, Americans were evenly divided, with 41% favoring the restoration of the Fairness Doctrine, and 41% opposed to it.Rasmussen Reports: Public Divided on Fairness Doctrine (July 14, 2007)
In August 2008, 47% of Americans said they supported the reinstitution of the Fairness Doctrine for radio and television--but only 31% believed the Internet should be forced to balance their commentary.Rasmussen Reports: 47% Favor Government Mandated Political Balance on Radio, TV (August 14, 2008)