< Back to S. 34 (111th Congress, 2009–2010)

Text of the Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009

This bill was introduced on January 7, 2009, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted. The text of the bill below is as of Jan 7, 2009 (Placed on Calendar in the Senate).

Source: GPO

II

Calendar No. 12

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 34

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 6, 2009

(for himself, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Thune, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Bond, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Graham, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Martinez, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Voinovich, and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; which was read the first time

January 7, 2009

Read the second time and placed on the calendar

A BILL

To prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating the fairness doctrine.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009.

2.

Fairness doctrine prohibited

Title III of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by inserting after section 303 (47 U.S.C. 303) the following new section:

303A.

Limitation on general powers: fairness doctrine

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opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the Fairness Doctrine, as repealed in General Fairness Doctrine Obligations of Broadcast Licensees, 50 Fed.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).

.

January 7, 2009

Read the second time and placed on the calendar