October 19, 2007 – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) this week signed a discharge petition filed by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) in order to force a vote on a measure– the Broadcaster Freedom Act– which would permanently ban the Fairness Doctrine. 

“I strongly believe that any attempt to reinstate the archaic government regulation known as the Fairness Doctrine is a thinly veiled assault on that basic tenet of liberty enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution.” Franks stated.  “To suggest that Washington bureaucrats are more capable of determining what is appropriate for talk radio listeners to hear than the listeners are themselves runs absolutely counter to every ideal upon which our nation was founded.  The attempts of the majority to extend control over the political views being voiced in the public forum is a blatant attack on freedom of speech, and I strongly urge Members who value that freedom to sign the Discharge Petition and allow a vote on this issue to be brought before the full House of Representatives.”

First established in the 1940s, when there were relatively few radio and television stations compared to today, the Fairness Doctrine was meant to ensure that the limited numbers of media outlets would offer people a full spectrum of news and opinion.  However, the proliferation of television, radio, print, and Internet media has transformed the doctrine into little more than a vehicle for the federal government to restrict free speech on the public airwaves, particularly talk radio.

In June, 309 Members of the House voted to support a one-year moratorium on the Fairness Doctrine authored by Representative Mike Pence.