By Randy Hall
CNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor
July 27, 2007
(CNSNews.com) - The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has waded into the debate over the Fairness Doctrine by telling lawmakers that he see "no compelling reason to reinstate" the broadcasting regulation.
His stance drew criticism from a liberal media analyst, who told Cybercast News Service that the rule should be reinstated, even though when it was enforced in the past it had been limited in its effectiveness.
"In my judgment, the events of the last two decades have confirmed the wisdom of the Commission's decision to abolish the Fairness Doctrine" in 1987, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wrote in a letter this week to Reps. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.), and made public on Thursday.
"Discussion of controversial issues over the airwaves has flourished absent regulatory constraints, and the public now enjoys access to an ever-expanding range of views and opinions," Martin noted.
"Indeed, with the continued proliferation of additional sources of information and programming, including satellite broadcasting and the Internet, the need for the Fairness Doctrine has lessened ever further since 1987," he added.
"In short, I see no compelling reason to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine in today's broadcast environment, and believe that such a step would inhibit the robust discussion of issues of public concern over the nation's airwaves," Martin said.
