1987 – The FCC formally abolished the Fairness Doctrine on grounds that:

1. It did not serving public interest
2. The scarcity of media issue had disappeared
3. It violated The First Amendment

Since 1987, Broadcasters have operated without the Fairness Doctrine and Talk Radio has flourished.  During this time there have been many calls by public figures for reinstatement and bills have been repeatedly introduced in Congress to codify the Fairness Doctrine… all with huge public negative reaction.

In 1988, Congress overwhelmingly passed a bill reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, but it was vetoed by President Reagan.

In 1991, with massive grass roots support President Bush threatened to veto a similar bill, thus stifling a second attempt on Congress's part to resurrect the Fairness Doctrine.

1993 – The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the FCC had acted in a reasonable manner in abolishing the Fairness Doctrine.

Since the 2006 elections, the almost daily cries from legislators to bring back the Fairness Doctrine has reached high fever pitch… as if something as significant as the 2008 election outcome depended on it.  No doubt this will intensify.
There are two ways the Fairness Doctrine could be brought back:

1. The FCC simply reinstates it.
2. Congress codifies it

If the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated, history indicates these things (and more) will happen:

1. The First Amendment, which these days seems to be the number one target, will again be significantly depreciated, further eroding our Freedom of Speech.
2. The political party in power will use the Fairness Doctrine to silence critics as was well documented during the Kennedy and Nixon administrations.
3. Many leading Broadcast Licensees will see their licenses at risk and will play it safe by imposing strict speech control.
4. The national and local robust town hall meetings known as Talk Radio will quickly become mundane, dull and milk-toast-like and mostly disappear.
5. Religious speech will be threatened by new government guidelines regarding what constitutes controversial and public issues… issues like same-sex marriage and abortion.
6. The overwhelming majority of the time the public will hear only the Liberal viewpoint presented as "fair and balanced" by the three major TV Networks, the vast majority of newspapers and the major magazines.  Déjà vu!

Media Scarcity:
Media access has dramatically changed since the 1969 Supreme Court Red Lion case.  Today there are many more radio stations, even in small communities, satellite radio, internet radio and the internet itself, plus an abundance of FM stations which were few in 1969.  Everyone agrees scarcity is no longer an issue.

Conclusion:
The Fairness Doctrine's frontal assault on Freedom of Speech not only trashes a vital part of our Constitution but does great harm to our country, nationally and locally by stopping a healthy public debate that is essential in our common search for TRUTH.

Preventing the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine is... A HILL TO DIE ON!