[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17687]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                NOTHING FAIR ABOUT THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Beginning in 1949, the Federal Communications Commission 
enforced the so-called fairness doctrine that required broadcasters to 
present controversial issues in a fair and balanced manner.
  It sounds reasonable enough, but there is nothing fair about the 
fairness doctrine. Thankfully, the FCC overturned its own ruling in 
1985. Since the demise of the fairness doctrine, talk radio has emerged 
as a dynamic forum for public debate and an asset to the Nation.
  Unfortunately, in the name of fairness, there has been much talk 
recent days about bringing back the fairness doctrine. Liberal think 
tanks and elected officials in both political parties in Congress are 
contemplating it. Bringing back the fairness doctrine would amount to 
nothing more than government control over political views expressed on 
public airwaves, and it must not be allowed to occur.
  This week I will be introducing the Broadcaster Freedom Act that will 
prevent the FCC or any future president from reinstating the fairness 
doctrine. President Kennedy said, ``A nation judge that is afraid to 
let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a 
Nation that's afraid of its people.''
  I urge my colleagues to join me as original cosponsors of the 
Broadcaster Freedom Act and support every effort on the floor this week 
to leave this unfair fairness doctrine on the ash heap of broadcast 
history.

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