Watson Coleman: “I think one of the basic principles at stake is we don't license and…”

On the recordJuly 13, 2007

I think one of the basic principles at stake is we don't license and measure content when it comes to speech, and that is my concern. That, in fact, is because of the multiplicity of communications options that are available to citizens today--as I said before, blogs, Internet, broadband, and satellite--which we didn't have 20, 30 years ago. Where my objection lies, and the importance of this amendment says Government should not be monitoring and regulating content. We are not talking about obscenity. There are things the Senator from Illinois understands the Government has an absolute right to monitor or to deal with. When we get to content--and that is my concern, that those who have raised the issue 'bring back the fairness doctrine,' are bringing it back, and the cry then is to regulate content. And that is what I object to.

Said by

Watson Coleman

New Jersey

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Discussing concerns about government regulation of speech and content during a debate on communications policy.

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Watson Coleman: “I think one of the basic principles at stake is we don't license and measure content when it comes to speech, and that…”

Editor's note · Context