The United States Federal Communications Commission, also known as the FCC, introduced the Fairness Doctrine to require broadcasters to report controversial issues of public importance in an equally balanced, honest and fair manner. Broadcasting companies were required to provide a certain amount of airtime to broadcast accurate and fair information, both for and against matters of public interest. Broadcasters were not required to give equal time to opposing views, but they were required to present opposing views. Broadcasters were given broader limits on how they should present these opposing views. Because under the constitutional right to free speech, the government wanted to ensure that broadcasting companies provided information that was both accurate and fair to both sides of the viewpoint. In August 1987, the FCC abolished this doctrine by a vote of 4 to 0, during the Syracuse Peace Accord. Board's decision, which was upheld by another panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in February 1989. (AuBuchon) They suggested that because of the large number of voices in the media market, the doctrine should be considered unconstitutional; stating that "government intrusion into program content brought about by the application of the fairness doctrine restricts the journalistic freedom of broadcasters and actually inhibits the presentation of controversial issues of public importance to the detriment of the public and the deterioration of the writing. prerogative of broadcast journalists. (Fairness) The government was trying to allow all broadcast networks to take a personal interest in someone or an issue without giving that person or organization the opportunity to express their views and reasons. If... middle of paper... nations, countries, cities, and individuals can be seriously harmed and damaged if there is no control over the information disseminated through the vast communications devices available. If everyone mentions the right to freedom of expression, it is sometimes forgotten, while the part which says “provided no harm to others” is often neglected. Works cited AuBuchon, D. (April 5, 2009). Free Speech and the Fairness Doctrine by: Dennis AuBuchon | American Conservative Daily (c) 2010. American Conservative Daily (C) 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2011 from http://www.americanconservativedaily.com/2009/04/freedom-of-speech-and-the-fairness-doctrine - 2/Doctrine of equity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (January 15, 2011). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved February 4, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine