Simply put, the Doctrine is a standard of excellence. . . . For those who hold that position, it is not likely they will cover those issues in the absence of the doctrine. The enforcement procedures described above have been carefully crafted to insure that they don't interfere with journalistic enterprise. Since many more people seek broadcast licenses than there are available frequencies, Congress decided to condition these free grants upon providing public service, such as covering important issues and doing so fairly. Yes, there are now more station, but the demand for scarce spectrum is greater than ever.
Most new stations are in small and medium markets which have been underserved.
After taking into account population growth and the increasing dependence on electronic media, the actual increase is far less than the raw numbers indicate. The wide availability of other media sources is largely beside the point. With local newspapers declining in many cities, broadcasting's influence in shaping public opinion, and its potential for abuse, is expanding rapidly. Moreover, with the notable exception of CNN, few non-broadcast media make a significant addition to the debate on issues and ideas, especially at the local level. People don't watch MTV or ESPN, much less rent a videocassette, to get help deciding for whom to vote or whether to support the school budget.