The Coming Counterrevolution To Hush The Alternative Media

[Commentary] A Democrat-controlled Washington will use sweeping new rules to shush conservative political speech. For starters, expect a real push to bring back the Fairness Doctrine. True, Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) says he isn't in favor of re-imposing this regulation, which, until Ronald Reagan's Federal Communications Commission junked it in the '80s, required broadcasters to give airtime to opposing viewpoints or face fines or even loss of license. But some Democrats are revved up about the idea, and it's hard to imagine Obama vetoing a new doctrine if Congress delivers him one. And Obama does say he wants to tighten media ownership regulations and expand the public interest duties of broadcasters, including by imposing greater "local accountability" on them — that is, forcing stations to carry more local programming, even if the public isn't demanding it. Obama, like congressional Democrats, also support "network neutrality."

(Anderson is editor of City Journal and co-author, with Adam Thierer, of "A Manifesto for Media Freedom."