[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4401 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4401

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reinstate the obligation of 
broadcast licensees to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion 
of conflicting views on issues of public importance (commonly known as 
                      the ``Fairness Doctrine'').


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 19, 2019

 Ms. Gabbard introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

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                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reinstate the obligation of 
broadcast licensees to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion 
of conflicting views on issues of public importance (commonly known as 
                      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 ``Restore the Fairness Doctrine Act of 
2019''.

SEC. 2. FAIRNESS DOCTRINE.

    Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (a) through (e) as 
        subsections (b) through (f), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting before subsection (b), as so redesignated, 
        the following:
    ``(a) Public Interest Obligation To Cover Publicly Important 
Issues.--A broadcast licensee shall afford reasonable opportunity for 
the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance. The 
enforcement and application of the requirement imposed by this 
subsection shall be consistent with the rules and policies of the 
Commission in effect on January 1, 1987, including sections 73.1920 and 
73.1930 (relating to personal attacks and political editorials, 
respectively) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on 
such date).''.
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