The Fairness Doctrine in the Wake of Deregulation

The panel was moderated by Mr. Wiley, a former chairman of the Federal

Communications Commission. Seven months after the FCC repealed the Fairness Doctrine, the panelists analyzed the decision. Kamp said the commission decided that the doctrine was a violation of the

First Amendment and that it had decreased rather than increased

coverage of controversial issues. Schwartzman posed the question,

“whose First Amendment right is it?” He argued that it is the right

of the public to receive information, not the right of broadcasters.

Herwitz commented that the constitutionality of it will be decided in the

courts. The panel went on to consider the broader question of

broadcast deregulation. After their presentations they responded to audience members' questions. close