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Thursday, December 2, 2021

FCC Nominee Hits GOP Turbulence


Republicans pushed back on President Biden’s nominee to join the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Gigi Sohn, at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday over past comments she’s made regarding conservative media — resistance that could put her nomination in danger, reports The Hill.

“All who know her would agree she is knowledgeable and a determined advocate,” ranking member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said in his opening statement about Sohn. “I am concerned about her record of expressing hyper-partisan views on many critical matters that have come before the commission and which may come before the commission again in the future.”

In the past, Biden’s nominees to other critical roles overseeing aspects of the tech industry, including Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan and Justice Department antitrust division head Jonathan Katner, have been confirmed without significant backlash from the GOP.

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s nomination by a voice vote with just a handful of Republicans recording themselves as a “no” toward her nomination. The committee also voted 14-14 Wednesday to advance Biden’s nominee to fill an open FTC seat, Alvaro Bedoya, to a full Senate vote.

The GOP resistance to Sohn could throw a wrench into her nomination and Democrats’ ability to secure a majority on the board. It would also hinder Rosenworcel’s ability to get Democrats’ agenda through, including reviving Obama-era net neutrality laws.

The FCC is split 2-2 along party lines until the vacant seat is filled.

Senate Democrats could overcome all Republicans voting against Sohn, but could not afford any defections to approve her nomination.

Sohn has a history of advocating for open and affordable communications networks. She is a distinguished fellow at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy and a Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate. Between 2003 and 2016, Sohn served as a counselor to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.

If confirmed, she would also be the first openly LGBTQ commissioner in the history of the agency.

“I’ve been asked why after a long career I would want a seat on the FCC. My answer is simple — if confirmed I would be serving on the commission at a critical time for our country. Thanks to the work of Congress over the past year, there are ample resources and bipartisan support to make enormous progress in closing the digital divide in both rural and urban areas,” Sohn said.

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