Not surprisingly, Julius Genachowski — Barack Obama’s nominee for chairman of the FCC — does not support reimposing the fusty old Fairness Doctrine anymore than his boss does. Asked at his nomination hearing to publicly state his view on the defunct yet still- controversial policy, Genachowski said he strongly supports in the First Amendment and doesn’t think the FCC should be involved in censorship.
According to industry trade journal Broadcasting & Cable, Genachowski was “asked at his nomination hearing by ranking Senate Commerce Committee Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) to publicly state the opinion he had expressed to her in a meeting–that he did not support the doctrine, even if it were arrived at by ancillary routes like localism mandates.”
Republican FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, who also got his renomination vetting in the committee Tuesday, said he did not have any concerns that the commission would reimpose it, saying he would take Genachowski at his word.
Now if only the right wing shock jocks would do the same!
