Ban The Fairness Doctrine Permanently By Passing the Broadcaster Freedom Act

[Man50D]

The Broadcaster Freedom Act will prevent the FCC from trying to enforce the Fairness Doctrine in the future. The Senate version is S.1748. It has 33 cosponsors and has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The House version is H.R.2905. It currently has 204 cosponsors and needs 218 for further action. Contact your Senators and Representatives ASAP to pass this legislation. The text of the bills is below.

[Man50D]

A BILL

To prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating 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 `Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2007'.

SEC. 2. FAIRNESS DOCTRINE PROHIBITED.

Title III of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by inserting after section 303 (47 U.S.C. 303) the following new section:

`SEC. 303A. LIMITATION ON GENERAL POWERS: FAIRNESS DOCTRINE.

`Notwithstanding section 303 or any other provision of this Act or any other Act authorizing the Commission to prescribe rules, regulations, policies, doctrines, standards, or other requirements, the Commission shall not have the authority to prescribe any rule, regulation, policy, doctrine, standard, or other requirement that has the purpose or effect of reinstating or repromulgating (in whole or in part) the requirement that broadcasters present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the `Fairness Doctrine', as repealed in General Fairness Doctrine Obligations of Broadcast Licensees, 50 Fed. Reg. 35418 (1985).'.

[Man50D]

Congress Critter ping!

[Turbopilot]

This is a good bill, although it's unfortunate that it's necessary. It seems awfully redundant considering the preexisting law:

Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...

It's a shame we need laws to prohibit the government from doing things it's already not allowed to do. But why does the article say the bill needs 218 cosponsors? Do other bills have to be assured of victory before they're brought to a vote?

[RandallFlagg]

Nice, but unfortunate that it’s needed.
IMHO, any elected official who attempts anything near the Fairness Doctrine should be ejected for violation of their oath of office.

[Man50D]

It's a shame we need laws to prohibit the government from doing things it's already not allowed to do. But why does the article say the bill needs 218 cosponsors?

My bad. The bill needs 218 signatures on a discharge petition for further action. The petition is a motion to Discharge a Committee from the Consideration of a resolution. They have 195 per Rep. Mike Pence this morning on the Laura Ingraham show. Sorry! Obviously I'm not a politician.

[FlashBack]

Did Pence say anything about the odds of getting to the necessary 218??

[Rick.Donaldson]

Anyone wanna talk about odds of it even getting OUT of committee? Doubtful. Dems control the committees.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

the Commission shall not have the authority to prescribe any rule, regulation, policy, doctrine, standard, or other requirement that has the purpose or effect of reinstating or repromulgating (in whole or in part) the requirement that broadcasters present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the `Fairness Doctrine', as repealed in General Fairness Doctrine Obligations of Broadcast Licensees, 50 Fed. Reg. 35418 (1985).'.

It being impossible to prove a lack of bias in what is not reported, the Commission shall not place the imprimatur of the government on any report by a licensee as being "objective."

The Commission shall require all licensees to refrain from reporting on the results of any election relevant official authority reports.

[Politicalmom]

PING!!

FReepmail to be added to the Congress Watch Ping List.

[flat]

WELL M/50 i think this bill will only, re unleash , re encourge and otherwise RE-EMBOLDEN the attack dogs of talk radio

i.e. greats like EL RUSHBO and EL SEAN
AND their grand discipleship...

therefore FOR THAT VERY SAME REASON....i think this measure should be passed Unanamously

Here’s some other good reasons

THIS LEGISLATION:

1....protects our citizenry from the predations of a lamestream media which continuously lies thru it’s collective agenda lovin teeth..
and
2 .... protects our citizenry from the predations of a lamestream media which continuously lies thru it’s collective agenda loving teeth..

moreover

3...it protects our citizenry from the predations of a lamestream media which continuously lies thru it’s collective agenda loving teeth..

HERE’S ANOTHER ADDED ADVANTAGE:

there is just a chance that these newly emboldened attack dogs just might scare some of the asshat lamestreamers straight....you know like SCARED STRAIGHT....
...so see this bill seems to be the only chance the lamestreamers have to get their minds right....

ERGO (and pay attn here)

In reality the this enactment is right in line with mr BUSH’S campaign promise... of a COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVISM...

(i reserve the balance of my time)

[Gene Eric]

Here's some foreign law, that is law foreign to certain members of Congress that's worth citing:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[Man50D]

Here's some foreign law, that is law foreign to certain members of Congress that's worth citing:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That law maybe effective in some other country but Congress will never accept such a law! ;O)

[paltz]

It’s getting down to the wire. DEMAND an up or down vote to bring this bill to the floor. Remember, if and or when Hillary gets into the oval office, all she has to do is appoint an FCC chair who can bring the fairness doctrine back. No act of congress is needed. This broadcater freedom act will take that power away from the FCC. Flood your congressmen’s office with phone calls.

[paltz]

The Hillary Camp doesn’t want to talk about the fairness doctrine right now, because she knows all she needs to do is get elected and appoint an FCC head who will do the dirty work of bringing back the Fairness doctrine for her. WHy bother going through congress? That is why it is urgent we pressure our congressmen to pass Pence’s bill to take that power away from the FCC.

[SunkenCiv]

Google Shuts Down Anti-Obama Sites on its Blogger Platform
Publius’ Forum | 6/29/08 | Warner Todd Huston
Posted on 06/29/2008 1:53:36 PM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2038256/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/fairnessdoctrine/index