McDowell Still Concerned About 'Fairness Doctrine," Indecency

Speaking to the National Religious Broadcasters, Federal Communications Commission member Robert McDowell said he will continue to speak out about his concerns that the Fairness Doctrine could return in another guise. He's concerned that "a series of new broadcast regulations, operating in tandem, could achieve the old Doctrine's 'viewpoint balancing' objective through a different route." "If, for instance, the Commission were to require stations to fill out content-prescriptive disclosure forms that hinted at the government's programming preference, then coupled that action with shorter license terms and mandated community advisory boards empowered to shape programming decisions, wouldn't we be back to where we were before 1987?" Commissioner McDowell also suggested that the FCC should not wait while the courts sort out challenges to its indecency enforcement policies, a process that could take a couple of years. "Whether you are a broadcaster or complaining consumer, I hope that you agree that acting on indecency cases is something we are paid by the American taxpayers to do. It is our job, and we should do it." He said Congress' passage in 2006 of a bill to boost indecency fines ten-fold was a clear sign from the people's directly elected representatives that the FCC should "make some tough decisions."