"All it takes is one appointment to the FCC of someone who would want to bring this back and there you go," said Matt Lloyd, spokesman for Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., a former talk radio host who is leading the legislative crusade
against the return of the doctrine…

Still, Mr. Pence and some of his Republican colleagues think the Fairness Doctrine is enough of a threat to require pre-emptive action.

One year ago, Mr. Pence introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act, which Mr. McCain co-sponsored, but Ms. Pelosi has declined to schedule a vote on the bill. Mr. Pence is currently gathering signatures for a discharge petition to force the bill onto the floor of the House.

When asked about claims that Democrats would not seek to reinstate the doctrine if they won the presidency in 2008, Mr. Lloyd, the Pence spokesman, said he did not buy them.

"You could count me, along with a number of other Republicans, skeptical," he said.

In particular, talk of increased "broadcast localism" has raised hackles. Some say such policies would have the same end as the Fairness Doctrine.

"Localism is a stealth Fairness Doctrine," Mr. Lloyd said.