Fairness Deregulated: The 1987 Abolishment of the FCC Fairness Doctrine and the Rise of Reagan-era Deregulation Público
Myerson, Maxwell (Spring 2023)
Abstract
Understanding the partisan media landscape of the twenty first century requires explanation of the regulatory developments that preceded it. In 1949, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sought to streamline their regulation of radio by adopting a fairness doctrine. Its two provisions mandated that broadcasters allow differing perspectives to express their views on important issues and dedicate time to discussing matters important to the general public. Despite pushback from a variety of stations in the 1950s and 60s, the doctrine faced little threat of deregulation until the dawn of the Reagan administration. Upon being elected to office, Reagan led a series of efforts in Congress and the FCC that ultimately resulted in its 1987 abolishment.
In this thesis, I argue the demise of the FCC fairness doctrine to have been an explicit product of Reagan-era deregulation. I begin with an introduction; beyond laying out my claims, this section provides clarifications on sources and key events referenced in the body. Following this is a context section, where the history of the fairness doctrine is explored from 1910 to the early 2010s. Through analysis of Reagan’s own radio broadcasts, as well as regulatory developments in the FCC and Congress, I show how closely the abolishment of the doctrine was intertwined with the agendum of Reagan-era Republicans. Next is a section that narrows in on 1987, exploring a hearing before the House of Representatives, along with interviews featuring FCC chairmen Mark S. Fowler and Dennis R. Patrick. These sources further prove how discussions surrounding the doctrine in the 1980s were centered on benefits and drawbacks of deregulation. Second to last is a section explaining the state of historiography in regards to the doctrine’s demise. I find three existing writings to have lacked proper emphasis on Reagan in their arguments, choosing instead to focus on the rise of conservative radio or on the decline in progressives present at the FCC. Finally, a conclusion examines continued efforts by Congresspeople to return the doctrine to enforcement, as well as retrospective opinions regarding how its abolishment has paved the way for the partisan media of today.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Context 10
Why Deregulation? 50
The Role of Deregulation, as Documented in Historiography 71
Conclusions 81
Bibliography 88
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