Genachowski, Again, Voices Opposition to Fairness Doctrine

By John Eggerton
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski once again reiterated his opposition to the fairness doctrine.

Saying sometimes "repeating relentlessly" was necessary, he told a House Communications Subcommittee oversight hearing audience Thursday that he did not support the doctrine's return, "either through the front door or the back door."

He also said he respected the First Amendment and freedom of expression and opinion.

That came in the chairman's opening remarks and after several Republican legislators referenced the fairness doctrine issue in their opening statements. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), for example, had warned that he would not be happy to see any "administrative interference."

John Eggerton
John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.