Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Restore the Fairness Doctrine Act of 2019”.
Restore the Fairness Doctrine Act of 2019
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reinstate the obligation of broadcast licensees to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance (commonly known as the Fairness Doctrine).
Sec. 2 Fairness doctrine
Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315) is amended—
by redesignating subsections (a) through (e) as subsections (b) through (f), respectively; and
by inserting before subsection (b), as so redesignated, the following:
“(a) Public interest obligation To cover publicly important issues—A broadcast licensee shall afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance. The enforcement and application of the requirement imposed by this subsection shall be consistent with the rules and policies of the Commission in effect on January 1, 1987, including sections 73.1920 and 73.1930 (relating to personal attacks and political editorials, respectively) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on such date).”