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| Gigi Sohn |
Prospects for Gigi Sohn — a controversial nominee to join the Federal Communications Commission who is a major proponent of restoring so-called “net neutrality” rules that used to govern the internet — may hinge on the outcome of the Georgia Senate runoff, reports On The Money at The NY Post.
Sohn — a progressive activist who has drawn skepticism from Republicans as she has signaled support of “defund the police” movements and co-founded an advocacy group funded by billionaire George Soros — is more likely to get a vote for her nomination if Democrat Rafael Warnock wins the Tuesday runoff for Georgia’s US Senate seat, insiders said. Likewise, Sohn’s candidacy may never come to a vote if his opponent Herschel Walker wins the runoff.
A Warnock win would give Democrats a 51-to-49 Senate majority. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is the only Democrat who still doesn’t support nominee Gigi Sohn and the extra vote will mean the Republicans cannot stop the nomination as she would get through in a tie, sources said.
Biden needs to get a nomination vote held this month. Otherwise, Biden would have to nominate Sohn again and she would need to go through the full nomination process, which includes Senate hearings, sources said.
There are now four FCC Commissioners — two Democrats and two Republicans — giving Democrats limited power.
Georgetown law professor Sohn helped craft net neutrality rules pushed during the Obama years that were supported by many of the biggest Silicon Valley tech giants including Amazon and Netflix.
Sohn would be expected to help restore full net neutrality — which would bar internet providers, often owned by cable companies — from discriminating against rival streaming companies — after its rollback during the Trump years.
Comcast is reportedly a big opponent of Sohn’s nomination.
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