FCC Nominee Gigi Sohn Pushes Back At Criticism

FCC Nominee Gigi Sohn

Gigi Sohn, Joe Biden’s choice to fill a fifth slot on the FCC, told a Senate committee last week that she has been subject to “unrelenting, unfair, and outright false criticism and scrutiny,” as she’s been a target of attacks from the right and industry lobbyists raise issues that have delayed her confirmation process, reports Deadline.

Sohn’s nomination is significant because her confirmation would give Democrats a 3-2 majority on the FCC, allowing it to move forward on contentious issues like net neutrality and media consolidation. Since last year, the commission has been split between the parties 2-2.

Under questioning before the Senate Commerce Committee, Sohn said that some companies have been “opportunistic” in seizing on one issue: whether she should recuse herself from matters that she has previously weighed in on as a public interest advocate, including her tenure as co-founder of the group Public Knowledge.

Sohn said, “I think there are certain very large companies that would like the FCC continue to be deadlocked. It’s no secret.”

Last Wednesday’s hearing showed that partisan lines have only hardened, meaning that Democrats may need all of its members present to clear her nomination. That won’t happen until Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) returns after suffering a stroke, and Sohn acknowledged that may push a confirmation vote off until April or May or even later.

As she did in her past hiring, Sohn cited her support from leaders of other rightward outlets, including Newsmax and One America News Network, while acknowledging that she would slightly regret the tone of some of her tweets. Another group, the Parents Television Council, announced their support for her nomination just before the hearing began. Sohn also noted that the FCC does not have oversight over Fox News, a cable network.

Pressed even further on her tweets by Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), Sohn said, “Can we put this censorship thing to bed? It is a little bit ridiculous.”

Democrats on the committee came to Sohn’s defense, as Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) praised her “transparency and tenacity” and said that the opposition was “part of an effort to deadlock, disarm and disable the FCC.” Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) noted the historic nature of Sohn’s nomination. “I have been a first a few times in my own career, and I know that is not easy,” said Baldwin, who is the first openly LGBTQ person to become a U.S. Senator.

Just hours after Sohn told lawmakers that she would “have no oversight, if confirmed, over Fox News,” Cruz appeared on Jesse Watters’ Fox News show to rail against her nomination.

As Cruz was interviewed, Fox News ran a chyron that read, “Biden picks Fox hater to regulate Fox.” But that is misleading, according to Deadline. As the FCC notes on its website, “the agency is prohibited by law from engaging in censorship or infringing on First Amendment rights of the press.”

Moreover, the FCC has limited authority over cable content, as it is broadcast stations that are licensed by the FCC. Fox News is not a broadcaster, although Fox Broadcasting and its television stations are. All are owned by Rupert Murdoch, who has been at odds with public interest advocates for years over issues of media ownership and consolidation, which Sohn has defended.