Senate votes to ban Fairness Doctrine

The Senate took a step towards banning the re-institution of the Fairness Doctrine today. The measure was added as an amendment to the bill giving District of Columbia residents a vote in the Houses. It passed 87-11. Many democrats have sought a return of the Fairness Doctrine as a way to destroy Republicans edge in talk radio.

Senate bars FCC from revisiting Fairness Doctrine

By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer Jim Abrams, Associated Press Writer – Thu Feb 26, 3:49 pm ET

WASHINGTON – The Senate voted Wednesday to bar federal regulators from reimposing a policy, abandoned two decades ago, that required balanced coverage of issues on public airwaves. The pre-emptive strike against the so-called Fairness Doctrine has been actively pushed by conservative radio talk show hosts who have warned that Democrats would seek to revive the policy to ensure that liberal opinions get equal time.

The 87-11 vote added the measure as an amendment to a bill giving District of Columbia residents a vote in the Houses.

Most Democrats voted along with the amendment, pushed by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., but said it was unneeded because President Barack Obama has stated he has no intention of reviving the Fairness Doctrine. They added that it is generally recognized that it is no longer relevant with the proliferation of television networks, some 14,000 AM-FM radio stations and the Internet.

The measure now goes to the House.(excerpt) read more at news.yahoo.com