Last Day of July

I just noticed it’s the last day of July and I haven’t posted anything about Christian radio in a while. So, I thought I would talk about the Fairness Doctrine.

What is the Fairness Doctrine?  Anyone who’s in radio knows.

Wikipedia puts it best — “The Fairness Doctrine was introduced in the U.S. in 1949 (Report on Editorializing by Broadcast Licensees, 13 F.C.C. 1246 [1949]). The doctrine remained a matter of general policy, and was applied on a case-by-case basis until 1967, when certain provisions of the doctrine were incorporated into FCC regulations. ^[2] It did not require equal time for opposing views, but required that contrasting viewpoints be presented. The Fairness Doctrine had two basic elements: It required broadcasters to devote some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest, and to air contrasting views regarding those matters. Stations were given wide latitude as to how to provide contrasting views: It could be done through news segments, public affairs shows or editorials.”

Well, it’s being discussed again in Congress. Actually it’s not — Democrats have been ordered NOT to talk about it because if Senator Barak Obama wins the presidency, they’ll push a new Fairness Doctrine, in an attempt to silence conservative talk radio and Christian radio.

However, there is a bill pending in Congress that could change that.

H.R. 2905 and S. 1742, sponsored respectively by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Norm Coleman (R-MN), prohibits the FCC from reinstating the “Fairness Doctrine,” which was in effect until 1987 when the FCC withdrew it. As of October 2007, H.R. 2905 and S. 1742 are in the first stage of the legislative process where they are being considered in committee and may undergo significant changes in markup sessions.

It is important for free speech to contact our congressional representative and tell them we support to bills H.R. 2905 and S. 1742 for Broadcast Freedom as they currently are written.

It amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), notwithstanding any other provision of any Act, from having the authority to require broadcasters to present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the Fairness Doctrine.

House Speaker Nancy Palosi, however, has said she will NOT bring the proposed bill to the floor for consideration. She knows many of her colleagues would vote for the bill…blocking her attempt to return the fairness doctine to FCC regulations.

Why should you care? Well, for Christian radio that COULD mean that when ever we talk about the Christian faith, we’ll also have to open the mic to someone who has an opposing view point. It means if we talk about pro-life, we’ll also have to talk about abortion. If we talk about what the Bible says about homosexuality,  we’ll also have to present someone on the air who supports it.

I’m taking a shot in the dark here, but if this happens, beware. You can expect to see Hate Speech Ligislation come out of Washington.

Basically our free speech rights will continue to evaporate, even more than they already have.

You can do something about it, though. Contact your congressman or congresswomen to make sure the bill goes before the house before January.