Wikipedia explains the principle:
"The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that required the holders of broadcast licenses to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was honest, equitable, and balanced."
What the Liberals will tell you: The Fairness Doctrine brings balanced information to the people.
The Truth: It will silence Conservative Voices.
Why? Because the Liberals already control the OLM, Talk Radio is the last bastion for Conservative Ideas to be shared. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck are just a few of those voices that would be silenced. Conservative Talk Radio has flourished because people listen to it. Glenn Beck appropriately calls his show the "Fusion of Entertainment and Enlightenment". Conservative Hosts pride themselves on educating their audiences, with information and Wit. This model has delivered Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck the number one, two and three most listened to talk shows in the Country, in that order. So obviously it's working...
Liberal Talk Radio doesn't work mostly because people don't want to tune it to a Raving lunatic repeating himself over and over again for three hours...Think "Bush Lied" "Bush is a Liar" "Bush lies" etc. Liberals are incapable of defending their positions without resorting to Name calling and hyperbole. Who would tune it to hear that everyday? The disastrous Air America isn't successful because No one listens. No listeners, No Advertisers....it's a short trip to bankruptcy from there.
The Un-Fairness Doctrine would force Radio stations to broadcast a Liberal show for every Conservative show it airs. So if a station now airs Beck,Limbaugh, Hannity, they would be forced to replace at least one if not two of the previous with Randi Rhoades or the man who is trying to steal the Minnesota election, Stuart Smally himself, Al Franken. Radio stations would inevitably lose listeners, but they would also lose fifty percent of all the conservative Voices now on the air. When Radio Stations lose fifty percent of their listeners in one day, they switch formats, to something that will attract more listeners. Thus silencing even those Conservative shows that survived the initial cuts. Liberal Mission Accomplished.
Several democrats have expressed an interest in Censoring conservative voices through this measure, including Sen. Jeff Bingaman who calls the "Fairness Doctrine" a "Higher Calling"... in this interview with KKOB in New Mexico.
You can read more on the history of this document at the Museum of Broadcast Communications website.
The Media Research Center, a conservative media watch dog group has created The Free Speech Alliance a group according to the website that is made up of groups and individuals that are joined together to fight for Freedom of Speech. They have organized an online petition to "reject any attempts to limit free speech".
Read and Sign the Petition Here
This is our first call to Action as Good Opposition Citizens. We Must stand up for the First Amendment, Freedom of Speech. It is our most sacred right to voice our opinions with out fear of reprisals from the Government.
Update: From GatewayPundit....
John Podesta's Media Matters is paving the way for the resurgence of the Fairness Doctrine. Podesta, a co-chairman of President-elect Barack Obama's White House transition team, and former chief of staff in the Clinton administration, was a critical player in the startup of this Far Left "media monitoring" website.
Media Matters is actively pushing to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine that would essentially silence talk radio.
Read More...
Newsbusters also did a story on the OLM silence over the "Censorship Doctrine" calling it a "Broadcast Blackout".
