Final answer:
The fairness doctrine was an FCC policy requiring balanced coverage of controversial issues on radio and TV. Abolished in the 1980s, it once ensured diverse perspectives on public discussions. The FCC's roles include enforcing the equal-time rule for political candidates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The regulation that required radio and television stations to provide a balanced discussion of public issues was known as the fairness doctrine.
This policy, established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1949, mandated that holders of broadcast licenses had to cover controversial issues in a balanced manner, ensuring that listeners received information about all perspectives on any controversial issue.
The fairness doctrine was a significant aspect of broadcast media regulation, but it was abolished in the 1980s following a series of court cases and criticism that it limited debate on controversial topics and involved the government too heavily as an editor or arbiter of content.
Over the years, the role of the FCC has evolved. For example, under the equal-time rule, radio and television broadcasters are required to provide equal opportunities for airtime to registered political candidates, ensuring fairness during election periods.
However, the fairness doctrine and the equal-time rule are distinct, with the latter focusing on political candidates and the former on the broader coverage of controversial public issues.