“This has potential to be in conflict with the First Amendment,” he said. “That’s why my letter tries … to thread that needle. There’s an additional responsibility to fairness when you’re borrowing or renting a federal medium like the (broadcast) spectrum.”

His letter was triggered, he said, by what he felt was insufficient coverage of recent events affecting Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign. For example, he pointed out recent revelations of FBI interest in newly found emails that were discovered during an investigation into Anthony Weiner, a disgraced husband of a close Clinton aide. The coverage, he said, seemed to skew unfairly towards FBI Director James Comey’s decision to make their discovery public instead of their implications on Clinton’s fitness for the presidency.

Asked whether the letter might be a play for votes -- given that both the presidential election and his own congressional election are just days away -- Cramer responded if it is indeed effective with voters, then he’s simply being a good representative by doing what his constituents want.

Cramer’s letter stressed he doesn’t want a return to the Fairness Doctrine, a former federal regulation that required television and radio stations to air opposing views on controversial matters.