FCC repeals Fairness Doctrine in 4-0 vote under Reagan administration

The Federal Communications Commission, voting 4-0, formally repeals the 38-year-old Fairness Doctrine, concluding that the requirement for balanced coverage of controversial issues violates the First Amendment and chills free speech. FCC Chairman Dennis Patrick announces the repeal, declaring it will "introduce the First Amendment into the 20th century" and extend First Amendment guarantees to broadcast media equivalent to those enjoyed by print media. President Ronald Reagan had vetoed Congressional legislation to enshrine the doctrine in law six weeks earlier, and Congress fails to override the veto.