I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4710 

To clarify the congressional intent concerning, and to codify, certain requirements of the Communications Act of 1934 that ensure that broadcasters 

afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on 

issues of public importance. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 24, 2004 

Ms. SLAUGHTER (for herself, Mr. HINCHEY, and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce 

A BILL 

To clarify the congressional intent concerning, and to codify, 

certain requirements of the Communications Act of 1934 

that ensure that broadcasters afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues 

of public importance. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Meaningful Expression 

5 of Democracy in America Act’’ or the ‘‘MEDIA Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 The Congress finds the following: 
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1 (1) A broadcast license confers the right to use 

2 a valuable public resource, and a broadcaster is 

3 therefore required to utilize that resource as a trust4 ee for the American people. 

5 (2) There is a substantial governmental interest 

6 in conditioning the award or renewal of a broadcast 

7 license on the requirement that the licensee ensure 

8 the widest possible dissemination of information 

9 from diverse and antagonistic sources by presenting 

10 a reasonable opportunity for the discussion of con11 flicting views on issues of public importance. 

12 (3) Since the removal of the Fairness Doctrine 

13 standard in 1987, we have seen a polarization in 

14 America due to the dissemination of false and mis15 leading information and the growing proliferation of 

16 highly partisan news outlets. 

17 (4) Democracy is built on the idea that the 

18 views, beliefs, and values of an informed citizenry 

19 are the best basis for political decision-making. 

20 (5) As journalist Bill Moyers said, ‘‘A free and 

21 responsible government by popular consent just can’t 

22 exist without an informed public. . . If free and 

23 independent journalism committed to telling the 

24 truth without fear or favor is suffocated, the oxygen 

25 goes out of democracy.’’ 
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1 (6) To restore the oxygen, there is broad public 

2 support for reestablishing requirements for balance 

3 in issue presentation over the public airwaves. 

4 (7) The Fairness Doctrine— 

5 (A) fairly reflects the statutory obligation 

6 of broadcasters under that Act to operate in the 

7 public interest; and 

8 (B) strikes a reasonable balance among the 

9 First Amendment rights of the public and 

10 broadcast licensees. 

11 (8) Our Founding Fathers created this democ12 racy based on the right to debate ideas openly and 

13 make informed choices, and the lack of a balanced 

14 debate on issues of public importance threatens 

15 these ideals. 

16 SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 

17 1934. 

18 Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 

19 U.S.C. 315) is amended— 

20 (1) by redesignating subsections (a) through (e) 

21 as subsections (b) through (f), respectively; and 

22 (2) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so re23 designated) the following new subsection: 

24 ‘‘(a) PUBLIC INTEREST OBLIGATION TO COVER PUB25 LICLY IMPORTANT ISSUES.—A broadcast licensee shall af-
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1 ford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of con2 flicting views on issues of public importance. The enforce3 ment and application of the requirement imposed by this 

4 subsection shall be consistent with the rules and policies 

5 of the Commission in effect on January 1, 1987.’’. 

6 SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

7 This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall 

8 take effect upon the date of enactment of this Act. 

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