Nearly 20 years ago, on Aug. 4, 1987, the FCC abolished the Fairness Doctrine, arguing that it undermined the First Amendment rights of broadcasters.

In two weeks in Washington, the man chiefly responsible for that action, then FCC Chairman Dennis Patrick, will speak on why the agency acted, the immediate reaction to the decision and how media have been affected by it over the past two decades.

The lecture is scheduled for Wednesday, July 18, at the National Press Club, First Amendment Room, from 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

The host is the Information Economy Project of the National Center for Technology & Law at George Mason University.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. To reserve your spot, e-mail Dorina Tila at dtila@gmu.edu.