Posted on 08/22/2011 2:27:32 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
FCC officially kills Fairness Doctrine, wiping it from rules By Gautham Nagesh - 08/22/11 03:21 PM ET
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the elimination of 83 outdated and obsolete agency rules on Monday, including the controversial Fairness Doctrine.
The elimination of the obsolete Fairness Doctrine regulations will remove an unnecessary distraction. As I have said, striking this from our books ensures there can be no mistake that what has long been a dead letter remains dead," Genachowski said in a statement.
"The Fairness Doctrine holds the potential to chill free speech and the free flow of ideas and was properly abandoned over two decades ago. I am pleased we are removing these and other obsolete rules from our books."
The rule required broadcasters to cover controversial issues in a manner deemed fair and balanced by the FCC. The commission deemed it unconstitutional in 1987 and ceased enforcement.
Some Democrats had suggested reviving the Fairness Doctrine in recent years in reaction to the partisan nature of cable news. Republicans were pushing the FCC to scrap it once and for all.
Genachowski previously pledged to strike the Fairness Doctrine and other antiquated rules as part of the Obama administration's ongoing regulatory review aimed at reducing the burden on businesses. The administration recently expanded the review to include independent agencies.
Our extensive efforts to eliminate outdated regulations are rooted in our commitment to ensure that FCC rules and policies promote a healthy climate for private investment and job creation," Genachowski said. "Im proud of the work we are doing toward our goal of being model of excellence in government."
The FCC also said it will delete the obsolete "broadcast flag" rules along with 50 other regulations that have already been removed. Genachowski said the agency's work is not done, and he has directed the head of each agency bureau to review rules in their areas with a goal of eliminating or revising rules that place needless burdens on businesses.
Seems to be excellent news.
Obie beginning to toss Libs under the bus?
No doubt they’ll just re-name it.
Watch for the new word, “localism.”
Well, there is at least one American in the government that remembers the Constitution.....another liberal Marxist attempt upon America SQUASHED!!!
Some good news for a change out of Washington.
“...excellence in government.”
Hmm. I wonder who he listens to.
Strange, I don’t think this is good news. I wonder why I’m so skeptical of what our government does?
Watch for the new word, localism.
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Yes, another typical Marxist methodology to suppress broadcasting of information by putting up “borders” around the sources. They have been trying this one for a long time as well....
Collectivism never gives up; it simply re-routes.
If the fairness doctrine is eliminated, the Left will try something else.
Hope this permanently kills the handicap libs wanted placed on conservative speech on talk radio. They needed this handicap to even the playing field; that is, give them an undeserved advantage.
They are wiping it out so they can reinvent it under new theories.
Got to make some room and try to eliminate from the history of the FCC.
I’m guessing this is cover/distraction for a move in the near future to institute “local community involvement” (or some such thing) which will be even more caustic to free expression than the old “Fairness Doctrine”.
That’s why I said “seems”... I always watch what the other hand is doing.
Something’s up!
I don’t trust these MF’ers as far as I could throw one.
NBC-DNC, ABC-DNC, CBS-DNC, MSNBC-DNC etc... networks are relieved! With the Fairness Doctrine they would have had to given equal time to “real” Conservatives!
Don’t get carried away. He is extremely liberal.
This seems way too easy.
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