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Senate Votes To Ban Reimposition of Fairness Doctrine On Broadcasters

By Howard M. Friedman

On an issue that has been seen as particularly important by religious broadcasters (see prior posting), the U.S. Senate yesterday voted 87-11 to prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating the Fairness Doctrine. In a separate amendment the Senate also voted to continue the policy of encouraging diversity in communication media ownership, and to require that the airwaves be used in the public interest.

AP, reporting on the amendments that were added to the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act, indicated that President Barack Obama has already said he does not intend to revive the Fairness Doctrine. Dan Gilgoff, on his God & Country blog, quotes Indiana Rep. Mike Pence who says: "The revival of the fairness doctrine is an existential threat to Christian radio. Requiring Christian stations to carry competing worldviews on issues like marriage and sanctity of life?these stations are ministries, and it's not something they're prepared to do." The Senate also added a gun rights amendment to the D.C. Voting Rights Act, and then by a vote of 61-37 sent the entire bill on to the House.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 27, 2009 (boomark / email).