00Enrolled HJR 32                                                                                                         
01 Supporting open and free competition within the broadcasting industry.                                                  
02                                        _______________                                                                  
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
04      WHEREAS Alaskans deserve a media venue in which the issues are debated freely                                    
05 and openly; and                                                                                                         
06      WHEREAS, in the past, the Federal Communications Commission regulations have                                     
07 caused the broadcasting industry to avoid important issues relevant to the United States; and                           
08      WHEREAS lifting the Fairness Doctrine opened the public airwaves to vigorous,                                    
09 healthy discussion of controversial issues; and                                                                         
10      WHEREAS talk radio has emerged as a forum for public debate among people with                                    
11 differing political views across Alaska and the United States; and                                                      
12      WHEREAS the First Amendment right of free speech applies regardless of the                                       
13 medium; and                                                                                                             
14      WHEREAS Americans are entitled to hear all of the facts and arguments on every                                   
15 side of an issue, no matter how controversial;                                                                          
16      BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports open and free                                          
17 competition within the broadcasting industry to promote healthy debate on issues between                                

01 people with differing backgrounds and from a wide variety of viewpoints; and be it                                      
02      FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature opposes federal action                                        
03 that would reverse or inhibit open and free competition within the broadcasting industry.                               
04      COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the                                     
05 Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S.                                              
06 Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.