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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the elimination of 83 outdated and obsolete agency rules on Monday, including the controversial Fairness Doctrine.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“Our extensive efforts to eliminate outdated regulations are rooted in our commitment to ensure that FCC rules and policies promote a healthy climate for private investment and job creation," Genachowski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. "I’m 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.
That would be my guess.
As with all govt actions we need to keep our eyes on what the "other hand" is doing.
Are they setting us up once again?
In other news Progressive DemoSocialist LibTurd heads explode
Gone, but not forgotten. At least one set of chains they haven’t got the power to use...for now.
The changing fortunes of our opponents doesn’t change their nature.
Always watch the magician’s other hand.
Genachowski said in a statement that the move was aimed at promoting “a healthy climate for private investment and job creation.”I guess I've finally gone off the deep end and need to be committed to an old age home.
Unless somebody can explain to me how duumping a bunch of outdated laws that haven't been enforced in years are going to create jobs or encourage private investment. Huh? Genachowski is the one gone off the deep end.
From the Department of Redundancy Department.
No doubt, they'll try another angle, but that's fine. Let them slink back in defeat, knowing that they'll find nothing but pain and opposition next time they try to muzzle free speech.
True. ACORN is supposedly defunct, also.
Names and tactics may change, but the goals of the control freaks don’t.
So what new evil are they cooking up?
My dad always told me, that the best thing to ever come out of Washington DC was I-95 North!...
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Yes, he is. That is why he is in the job.
Obama wanted to make sure that he had someone who would carry out his Marxist, anti-Constitutional policies where ever he can get away with them. Standard operating procedure.
“Watch for the new word, “localism.”
Exactly. Omoslem and his merry Commies are just re-branding it.
Why am I suspicious?
The first thing that came to my mind was John Effin’ Kerry’s admonition last week to news outlets not to give The Tea Party “equal time”.
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