Facts on Fairness Doctrine

In response to recent letters, a few facts: The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the Federal Communications Commission. It was established in 1949, when television was just beginning and when most Americans were able to get their news from a limited number of on-air sources, so the FCC required stations to present both sides of controversial issues. It was upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court in Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, in 1969. That decision was unanimous. The Fairness Doctrine was abolished by the FCC in 1987. With the proliferation of cable news outlets and political Internet sites, it is no longer needed, and no one in the current Democratic leadership has suggested reinstating it.

The recent bill Rep. Jason Chaffetz has said he plans to introduce, making it impossible to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, has no chance of passing but is in any event entirely unnecessary.

Ann Coulter has not been banned from appearing on NBC. She was scheduled to appear on the "Today" show but was bumped when the show was able to book Tony Blair instead. She was invited on the show the next day and appeared. Speaking as a liberal, I'm delighted to have Coulter represent conservatism. She does far more harm to her own cause than good.

Finally, yes, Democrats are in fact working to make it difficult for Republican-sponsored bills to pass. That's because Democrats won the election.

Eric Samuelsen

Provo