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)

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)

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)

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)