Several House Republicans objected to FCC activities they...
Several House Republicans objected to FCC activities they say are an attempt to revive the Fairness Doctrine. Every Republican member of the House Communications Subcommittee, including Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., and full Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., signed onto a…
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Tuesday letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler (http://1.usa.gov/18AC5fK). The letter cited a Nov. 1 agency public notice (http://fcc.us/1bB7C2n) announcing a field test for the research design of what it called a multi-market study of critical information needs. But the members argued the letter amounts to “Fairness Doctrine 2.0” and “a startling disregard for not only the bedrock constitutional principles that prevent government intrusion into the press and other news media” but also lessons from past Fairness Doctrine endeavors. The FCC has no business “probing the news media’s editorial judgment and expertise,” the letter said. It asks about the purpose of the study as well as the statutory justification for launching it. The FCC declined comment.