August 07, 2008
Christian broadcasters nervous about Fairness Doctrine
By Mallika Rao

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is making Christian broadcasters nervous. Pelosi, D-Calif., supports bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, she said recently, a push criticized by both the right and left. The discarded 1949 Federal Communications Commission policy forced broadcasters who sent out specific messages -- like anti-abortion speech -- to set aside time for opposing views. "It would really make it impossible to preach the whole counsel of God," said Rich Bott, the owner of Kansas-based Bott Radio Network. Pelosi hasn't offered legislation to reinstate the doctrine, but has said a bill that would permanently ban it will not be considered in the House. That's enough to make Christian broadcasters nervous enough to launch a full-throttle effort to keep it from being resurrected.

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