Official Bill Info

• Latest Action: Jan 14, 2009 Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.

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• Committee Assignment: House Energy and Commerce

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce committee.
• Committee Assignment: House Energy and Commerce - Communications, Technology, and the Internet

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce - Communications, Technology, and the Internet committee.

Bill Statistics on OpenCongress

Contribution Data

OpenCongress Bill Summary

• Although the Fairness Doctrine, requiring broadcasters to present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues, was abolished in 1987, this bill would inhibit the Federal Communications Commission from reintroducing it in the future.

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  Here's a summary from OpenCongress.org: Although the Fairness Doctrine, requiring broadcasters to present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues, was abolished in 1987, this bill would inhibit the Federal Communications Commission from reintroducing it in the future.

Supporting Organizations

• National Association of Broadcasters

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  I know that the organization National Association of Broadcasters supports H.R.226
• National Right to Life Committee

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  I know that the organization National Right to Life Committee supports H.R.226
• Family Research Council

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  I know that the organization Family Research Council supports H.R.226
• American Center for Law and Justice

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  I know that the organization American Center for Law and Justice supports H.R.226

Most-commented sections of the bill text

• ‘Notwithstanding section 303 or any other provision of this Act or any other Act authorizing the Commission to prescribe rules, regulations, policies, doctrines, standards, or other requirements, the Commission shall not have the authority to prescribe any rule, regulation, policy, doctrine, standard, or other requirement that has the purpose or effect of reinstating or repromulgating (in whole or in part) the requirement that broadcasters present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the ‘Fairness Doctrine’, as repealed in General Fairness Doctrine Obligations of Broadcast Licensees, 50 Fed. Reg. 35418 (1985).’. (5 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "‘Notwithstanding section 303 or any other provision of this Act or any other Act authorizing the Commission to prescribe rules, regulations, policies, doctrines, standards, or other requirements, the Commission shall not have the authority to prescribe any rule, regulation, policy, doctrine, standard, or other requirement that has the purpose or effect of reinstating or repromulgating (in whole or in part) the requirement that broadcasters present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the ‘Fairness Doctrine’, as repealed in General Fairness Doctrine Obligations of Broadcast Licensees, 50 Fed. Reg. 35418 (1985).’.",

Highest Rated User Comments

• On January 15, 2009, by mcgoo - If people don't like what they're hearing on a talk radio channel, change the channel. Same with the Internet, people have the choice of clicking through to another site. More important than reimplementing the Fairness Doctrine, is putting a cap on media ownership. MSM control in the hands of few owners, enables them to exert undue influence, as a majority of citizens rely on the MSM for their worldview.

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  As noted by mcgoo, a user on OpenCongress.org, on January 15, 2009, "If people don't like what they're hearing on a talk radio channel, change the channel. Same with the Internet, people have the choice of clicking through to another site. More important than reimplementing the Fairness Doctrine, is putting a cap on media ownership. MSM control in the hands of few owners, enables them to exert undue influence, as a majority of citizens rely on the MSM for their worldview."
• On February 10, 2009, by shooter - @ mcgoo, "...If people don't like what they're hearing on a talk radio channel, change the channel." That's beside the point of the effort here. The point is "fairness" and that means liberal talk shows that can't hack it in the free market. Rather than tell liberal talk show hosts to find an audience (and so far, there is none of any value or consequence), the answer is to censor or eliminate those who are successful in the free market -- like Rush, Hannity and Beck. This is fascism, pure simple.

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  As noted by shooter, a user on OpenCongress.org, on February 10, 2009, "@ mcgoo, "...If people don't like what they're hearing on a talk radio channel, change the channel." That's beside the point of the effort here. The point is "fairness" and that means liberal talk shows that can't hack it in the free market. Rather than tell liberal talk show hosts to find an audience (and so far, there is none of any value or consequence), the answer is to censor or eliminate those who are successful in the free market -- like Rush, Hannity and Beck. This is fascism, pure simple."
• On January 19, 2009, by slinkymaster - Why would anyone want to give the FCC more power to censor people? All this will do is allow whoever is running the FCC to declare that their opposition has an "unfair" advantage. Just because Rush and Hannity are big in talk radio today doesn't mean that the situation might be the opposite in the future. People are so short sighted...

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  As noted by slinkymaster, a user on OpenCongress.org, on January 19, 2009, "Why would anyone want to give the FCC more power to censor people? All this will do is allow whoever is running the FCC to declare that their opposition has an "unfair" advantage. Just because Rush and Hannity are big in talk radio today doesn't mean that the situation might be the opposite in the future. People are so short sighted..."

Highly Rated Blog Articles

• H.R.226: Congressional Disclosures Protections Act of 2011 - U.S. ... - January 05, 2011 by opencongress.org - Or, if you know of a news article about this bill to display here, email us the web address of this page and the web address of your suggested news article: Our editorial team will post relevant links as quickly as possible. Thanks for helping to build pub

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  As noted by opencongress.org on January 05, 2011, "Or, if you know of a news article about this bill to display here, email us the web address of this page and the web address of your suggested news article: Our editorial team will post relevant links as quickly as possible. Thanks for helping to build pub" (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h226/show)
• graywaffles: The Southern Avenger - December 24, 2010 by graywaffles - Obama's War On Prosperity Continues: H.R. 3200. H.R. 2454 Obama's Carbon Tax Scam. stop s.773 - Government takeover of the internet. Support H.R. 226. SUPPORT!!! H.R.1146 would end membership of the United States in the United Nations ...

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  As noted by graywaffles on December 24, 2010, "Obama's War On Prosperity Continues: H.R. 3200. H.R. 2454 Obama's Carbon Tax Scam. stop s.773 - Government takeover of the internet. Support H.R. 226. SUPPORT!!! H.R.1146 would end membership of the United States in the United Nations ..." (http://graywaffles.blogspot.com/2010/12/southern-avenger.html)
• lordcasino - Congress Set to Fail Online Poker Players - December 22, 2010 by lordcasino - Frank's bill H.R.226 — the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act — which had a good measure of bipartisan support, was apparently shelved once it passed through committee. Then along came Reid with his ...

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  As noted by lordcasino on December 22, 2010, "Frank's bill H.R.226 — the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act — which had a good measure of bipartisan support, was apparently shelved once it passed through committee. Then along came Reid with his ..." (http://lordcasino.livejournal.com/15958.html)

Highly Rated News Articles

• 'Fairness Doctrine' - a misnomer that may become law - January 15, 2009 by OneNewsNow, MS - The bill is a companion to House legislation (HR 226) introduced by Republicans Mike Pence (Indiana) and Greg Walden (Oregon). In agreement with Wicker, ...

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  As noted by OneNewsNow, MS on January 15, 2009, "The bill is a companion to House legislation (HR 226) introduced by Republicans Mike Pence (Indiana) and Greg Walden (Oregon). In agreement with Wicker, ..." (http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=386088)
• The Unfairness Doctrine - January 11, 2009 by Human Events, DC - (Pence’s House bill is HR-226. DeMint’s senate bill is S-340). The House bill already has over 100 co-sponsors, and the Senate bill has 24. ...

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  As noted by Human Events, DC on January 11, 2009, "(Pence’s House bill is HR-226. DeMint’s senate bill is S-340). The House bill already has over 100 co-sponsors, and the Senate bill has 24. ..." (http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30238&s=rcmc)
• ACLJ Supports Congressional Efforts to Prohibit Return of Fairness ... - January 07, 2009 by Earthtimes (press release), UK - The Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009 was introduced yesterday into the House (HR 226) and Senate (S. 34) by Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), Chairman of the ...

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  As noted by Earthtimes (press release), UK on January 07, 2009, "The Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009 was introduced yesterday into the House (HR 226) and Senate (S. 34) by Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), Chairman of the ..." (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/aclj-supports-congressional-efforts-to,673725.shtml)