Give time slot to opposing views

To the editor:

As Democrats are getting ready to reintroduce the Fairness Doctrine bill, Republicans are justly outraged and up in arms against it. It is clear to all sensible people that the Fairness Doctrine is outdated and has little relevance to 21st century public broadcasting industry.

There is a simple alternative to Fairness Doctrine. Talk-show hosts of all leanings should voluntarily designate 10 minutes of uninterrupted time to people who want to express opposing points of view by telephone. This dedicated slot of time would become an integral part of the show. This would still leave the talk show hosts 2 hours and 50 minutes to broadcast his or her biased point of view without anyone censoring it. As it is now, talk-show hosts take calls from people holding opposing views, but invariably they hoot them out or cut them short for lack of time or tolerance.

This shift in the responsibility from broadcasting stations to talk-show hosts to present balanced views on controversial topics should address the chilling effect of the proposed Fairness Doctrine on the former feared by all lovers of the First Amendment.

K.P.S. Kamath, Cape Girardeau