By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s pick for a key fifth seat on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday faced harsh criticism from Republicans senators while Democrats said it was crucial the U.S. telecom regulator have a full slate of commissioners.
Gigi Sohn, who was nominated in October 2021, had her third hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, telling lawmakers industry opponents “fear a pragmatic, pro-competition, pro-consumer policymaker who will support policies that will bring more, faster, and lower-priced broadband.”
Republicans offered a sweeping denunciation of Sohn on a number of grounds and accused her of misleading Congress – something she rejected.
Ted Cruz, the top Republican on the panel, said Sohn “has shown herself to be an extreme partisan who lacks the impartiality and candor necessary to serve in a leadership position at a powerful independent regulatory agency.”
Many Democrats said Republicans were doing the bidding of powerful telecom companies who did not want to face regulation from the FCC.
Committee chair Maria Cantwell said that telecom firms were worried Sohn would push for lower-cost internet service.
“Somehow if affordable broadband gets deployed anywhere, then somehow more affordable broadband might get deployed everywhere,” Cantwell said. “So I think there’s probably billions of dollars at stake here, and that is why the vitriol is coming at you.”
Democrats since January 2021 have been unable to command a majority of the five-member FCC, stalling the party’s efforts to reinstate landmark net neutrality rules revoked under Republican former President Donald Trump.
In July 2021, Biden signed an executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate the open internet net neutrality rules.
Republicans have questioned Sohn’s role as a board member of a nonprofit that operated a transmission service called Locast. It was ordered shut down after four broadcast networks filed a copyright infringement lawsuit.
If confirmed, Sohn has voluntarily agreed to recuse herself on some matters involving retransmission consent and TV broadcast copyright.
Democrats have a 51-49 majority in the Senate. Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen cited serious concerns raised by some law enforcement groups and she said that gave “her pause” about Sohn’s nomination.
Cantwell told reporters after the hearing she had not decided when to hold a vote on her nomination.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
