Dick Durbin's Letter to Me

Dick Durbin’s Response to Me, Received Today Via E-mail  (see March 2 post for my original letter) Notice he does not respond at all to my original question about his bill (attached to the DC Voting Rights Bill) which directs the FCC to "promote diversity in communication media ownership and to ensure that broadcast station licenses are used in the public interest" and is essentially the Fairness Doctrine through the back door. “March 12, 2009 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ward: Thank you for contacting me regarding the Fairness Doctrine. I appreciate hearing from you and share your opposition to this standard.  In February of 2009, I voted for an amendment to the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009 prohibiting the FCC from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented the Fairness Doctrine in 1949 to serve two purposes; to ensure broadcasters cover issues of public interest on the airwaves, and to guarantee a space where contrasting viewpoints could be expressed. In 1987, the FCC abolished the Fairness Doctrine arguing that the growth in the number and the variety of broadcasters along with first amendment concerns made the measure obsolete.  I believe that, due to the technological advances and the growth in the number of broadcasters using the public airwaves, the Fairness Doctrine is no longer necessary.  Thank you again for contacting me. Please feel free to keep in touch. Sincerely,  Richard J. Durbin United States Senator  RJD/tr”