Teh One Who Knocks
08-23-2011, 11:36 AM
By Mark Hachman - PC Magazine
The Federal Communications Commission on Monday officially purged the Fairness Doctrine from its books, as part of 83 "outdated and obsolete" media rules.
The FCC also announced that it would delete obsolete "broadcast flag" rules, as well as outdated rules governing cable programming rates, as well as broadcast applications and proceedings rules.
"Our extensive efforts to eliminate outdated regulations are rooted in our commitment to ensure that FCC rules and policies promote a healthy climate for private investment and job creation," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, in a statement. "I'm proud of the work we are doing toward our goal of being model of excellence in government. This includes our recent commitment to act in accordance with the recent Executive Order on Regulation and Independent Agencies, which is consistent with the values and philosophy we apply at the FCC."
Although the Fairness Doctrine is now officially purged, it had essentially been off the books for decades, as it had been deemed unconstitutional in 1987, and irrelevant in the age of cable news and the Internet. Genachowski had said in June, however, that would pledge to get rid of the Fairness Doctrine as part of an executive order, issued by President Obama, to get rid of outdated regulations.
The FCC's Fairness Doctrine required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance in a manner that was honest, equitable and balanced.
"The elimination of the obsolete Fairness Doctrine regulations will remove an unnecessary distraction," Genachowski said in a statement. "As I have said, striking this from our books ensures there can be no mistake that what has long been a dead letter remains dead. The Fairness Doctrine holds the potential to chill free speech and the free flow of ideas and was properly abandoned over two decades ago. I am pleased we are removing these and other obsolete rules from our books."
Genachowski said that the work would continue.
"Our work is not done," he wrote. "I have directed each bureau at the FCC to conduct a review of rules within their areas with the goal of eliminating or revising rules that are outdated or place needless burdens on businesses. We are also in the process of developing a retrospective review plan, pursuant to the recent Executive Order."
The FCC has already eliminated over 50 other outdated regulations, it said.
The Federal Communications Commission on Monday officially purged the Fairness Doctrine from its books, as part of 83 "outdated and obsolete" media rules.
The FCC also announced that it would delete obsolete "broadcast flag" rules, as well as outdated rules governing cable programming rates, as well as broadcast applications and proceedings rules.
"Our extensive efforts to eliminate outdated regulations are rooted in our commitment to ensure that FCC rules and policies promote a healthy climate for private investment and job creation," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, in a statement. "I'm proud of the work we are doing toward our goal of being model of excellence in government. This includes our recent commitment to act in accordance with the recent Executive Order on Regulation and Independent Agencies, which is consistent with the values and philosophy we apply at the FCC."
Although the Fairness Doctrine is now officially purged, it had essentially been off the books for decades, as it had been deemed unconstitutional in 1987, and irrelevant in the age of cable news and the Internet. Genachowski had said in June, however, that would pledge to get rid of the Fairness Doctrine as part of an executive order, issued by President Obama, to get rid of outdated regulations.
The FCC's Fairness Doctrine required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance in a manner that was honest, equitable and balanced.
"The elimination of the obsolete Fairness Doctrine regulations will remove an unnecessary distraction," Genachowski said in a statement. "As I have said, striking this from our books ensures there can be no mistake that what has long been a dead letter remains dead. The Fairness Doctrine holds the potential to chill free speech and the free flow of ideas and was properly abandoned over two decades ago. I am pleased we are removing these and other obsolete rules from our books."
Genachowski said that the work would continue.
"Our work is not done," he wrote. "I have directed each bureau at the FCC to conduct a review of rules within their areas with the goal of eliminating or revising rules that are outdated or place needless burdens on businesses. We are also in the process of developing a retrospective review plan, pursuant to the recent Executive Order."
The FCC has already eliminated over 50 other outdated regulations, it said.