Copps: Tying Diversity To Fairness Doctrine Is Issue Mongering

Speaking to the Federal Communications Commission's Diversity Advisory Committee, FCC Chairman Michael Copps said that there was one topic that he did not expect the committee to address: the fairness doctrine. "I almost hesitate to mention it because it seems so obvious," he said. However, he mentioned it anyway, saying that was because, "apparently there are some who remain confused—I hope not willfully so." That appeared to be a reference to criticisms leveled at the committee by conservatives that it was packed with liberals and could become a tool of the Obama administration to reinstate the doctrine in some other form, which the President has said on more than one occasion he has no plans to do. "Those who claim that promoting diversity and addressing the woeful effects of past discrimination are the equivalent of bringing back the Fairness Doctrine understand neither the Fairness Doctrine nor, more importantly, the lack of opportunity minorities and women have when it comes to owning and operating the enterprises that allow us to communicate with one another." Chairman Copps used words like "shameful" and "dismal" to describe the state of minority and women ownership of the media.