Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC

Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC (1969) was a Supreme Court case that upheld the FCC’s fairness doctrine, which required broadcasters to present balanced views on controversial issues. The Court ruled that broadcasters, as limited-spectrum vendees, have a special obligation to serve the public interest, and this obligation justified regulation of their content. The case reinforced the idea that the government can impose certain restrictions on broadcasters to ensure diverse viewpoints, balancing free speech with societal needs for fair and responsible communication.