Federal

RUSH WAS RIGHT Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 336 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill prevents the Federal Communications Commission (a federal agency that regulates communications) from creating or bringing back the Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine was a rule that required broadcasters to present different viewpoints on controversial public issues.

Who It Affects

The Federal Communications Commission. Potentially broadcast stations that use public airwaves to transmit radio or television.

Key Provisions

• The Federal Communications Commission cannot create any rule, regulation, policy, doctrine, standard or other requirement that reinstates or brings back the Fairness Doctrine, either in whole or in part (Sec. 303A)

What Changes

If this becomes law, it adds a new section to the Communications Act of 1934 that explicitly forbids the Federal Communications Commission from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine in any form.

Important Definitions

Fairness Doctrine: A repealed rule that required broadcasters to present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance.

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 145 To prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating the Fairness Doctrine. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 9, 2023 Mr. DUNCAN (for himself and Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating the Fairness Doctrine. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reassuring that the 4 United States Has Wide And Scrupulous Rhetorical In- 5 sight to Garnish Honest Thought Act of 2023’’ or the 6 ‘‘RUSH WAS RIGHT Act of 2023’’. 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Jan 18, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H145.IH H145 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 145 IH SEC. 2. FAIRNESS DOCTRINE PROHIBITED. 1 Title III of the Communications Act of 1934 is 2 amended by inserting after section 303 (47 U.S.C. 303) 3 the following new section: 4 ‘‘SEC. 303A. LIMITATION ON GENERAL POWERS: FAIRNESS 5 DOCTRINE. 6 ‘‘Notwithstanding section 303 or any other provision 7 of this Act or any other Act authorizing the Commission 8 to prescribe rules, regulations, policies, doctrines, stand- 9 ards, or other requirements, the Commission shall not 10 have the authority to prescribe any rule, regulation, policy, 11 doctrine, standard, or other requirement that has the pur- 12 pose or effect of reinstating or repromulgating (in whole 13 or in part) the requirement that broadcasters present op- 14 posing viewpoints on controversial issues of public impor- 15 tance, commonly referred to as the ‘Fairness Doctrine’, 16 as repealed in General Fairness Doctrine Obligations of 17 Broadcast Licensees, 50 Fed. Reg. 35418 (1985).’’. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Jan 18, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H145.IH H145 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.