Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin J. Martin is the latest to step up to say the Fairness Doctrine doesn’t need to be revived.

In a letter responding to two congressmen concerned that Democrats might be planning to revive the doctrine that requires broadcasters to offer competing viewpoints in a balanced manner when presenting controversial issues, Mr. Martin said he sees “no compelling reason” for its reinstatement.

“In my judgment, the events of the last two decades have confirmed the wisdom of the commission’s decision to abolish the Fairness Doctrine,” Martin said in the letter to Reps. Mike Pence, R-Ind., and Greg Walden, R-Ore.

Some Democrats have complained that Republicans have a clear advantage in talk radio, with the number of conservative-hosted shows far outweighing the amount of progressive talk.

Although there has been little formal action in either the House or the Senate, the discussion has prompted concerns by conservatives that the Democrats will move ahead with legislation to ensure better balance. The House, with Democrats’ support, approved an amendment to an appropriations bill to bar the FCC from acting for a year, but the Senate rejected several attempts to ban the FCC from acting.

Mr. Martin, in his letter to the congressmen, said there was no more need for the doctrine than when it was abolished by the FCC.

“Discussion of controversial issues over the airwaves has flourished absent regulatory constraints, and the public now enjoys access to an ever-expanding range of views and opinions. Indeed, with the continued proliferation of additional sources of information and programming, including satellite broadcasting and the Internet, the need for the Fairness Doctrine has lessened ever further since 1987.

“In short, I see no compelling reason to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine in today’s broadcast environment, and believe that such a step would inhibit the robust discussion of issues of public concern over the nation’s airwaves,” he wrote.

(Editor: Horowitz)