I’m not that worried about this doctrine for a few reasons: (1) I don’t think this will ever be passed, and (2) it’s sort of impossible for it to work even if it would be passed, in that there are just so many more media options than there used to be.  Actually, that’s why I think the fairness doctrine itself is not really that necessary.  Of course, this ignores that basic TV and papers ignore what’s really important in the world for what’s sensational, but that has much more to do with substance/sensation than with liberal/conservative.  Anyways, here’s the article:

A move to require broadcasters to provide equal time to all sides of controversial issues has religious radio programs worried, even though no formal proposal has been introduced and the White House likely wouldn’t support it.

At issue is the idea of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, which policed public airwaves from 1949 to 1987 in hopes of giving voice to all sides of an issue. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) scrapped the policy when it was judged ineffective and a possible violation of free-speech rights.

Reviving the policy has been popular among liberals who feel shut out of conservative-dominated talk radio, and has attracted the support of everyone from former President Bill Clinton to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.