July 4th -- 'Radio Independence Day'?

Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 6/13/2008 9:50:00 AMvar addthis_pub = 'onenewsnow';

A conservative organization is urging members of Congress to pass a bill that would permanently ban the so-called "Fairness Doctrine."

Supporters of the Broadcaster Freedom Act want to get the necessary 218 signatures on the discharge petition by July 4; currently the petition has 194 signatories. H.R. 2905, sponsored by Congressman Mike Pence (R-Indiana) and a host of other House members, would remove from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) any authority to enact regulations or policies that would reinstate "the requirement that broadcasters present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance" -- otherwise known as the Fairness Doctrine.
  
Rich Noyes of the Media Research Center says the Fairness Doctrine was never fair. "It was used by liberals to intimidate conservative talk radio," he points out.
 
The doctrine made it easy to sue in order to make sure the other side was given access, Noyes continues. "It really had a chilling effect in that there was very little editorial discussion, independent discussion like you have today on talk radio," he notes. "And liberals have for 20 years ... wanted to get this regulation put back in."
 
Noyes says the Democrats have reason to be more confident right now because they have the opportunity to elect a Democratic majority in Congress, and a Democratic administration in the Capitol – which would allow them to decide FCC appointees.
 
"[S]o the idea is to get members of Congress to vote now on whether they want this to happen," he expresses. Noyes is hopeful July 4 will be Radio Independence Day in 2008.