Watson Coleman: “this bill is about educating young people. Let them have unfettered access to information. This bill would prohibit the…”

“this bill is about educating young people. Let them have unfettered access to information. This bill would prohibit the Government from monitoring ideas on our public airwaves and penalizing broadcasters who don't meet the Government's definition of fair and balanced. There is a reason why our first amendment is freedom of speech because all freedoms are at risk when Government monitors and controls the broadcast of ideas. Since the end of the fairness doctrine in 1987, talk radio has flourished because of consumer-driven market demand, not because of Government command, not because of Government control. That is why I am offering this amendment which will protect America's constitutionally granted right to free speech. It will prohibit the FCC from reinstituting the fairness doctrine. At the end of the day, there is nothing fair about the fairness doctrine. This issue is not which broadcaster is fair and which is not. The issue is who decides. I believe fairness is what the American public decides is fair, not some Washington politician or bureaucrat. Americans love a fair fight, but there is nothing fair if the intent is to silence debate because a politician disagrees with it. I ask for my colleagues to support this amendment.”