Commerce Committee Sets Vote on Gigi Sohn for FCC

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, February 25, 2022

Gigi Sohn

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) set March 3 for a vote on the nomination of Gigi Sohn for the open Democratic seat on the FCC. Previously, Sohn has had two nomination hearings but no vote by the committee on whether to submit her to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. In late January, Sohn pledged to recuse herself temporarily from two broadcast regulatory issues if confirmed by the Senate.

Those issues included retransmission consent or television broadcast copyright for the first three years of her term. Sohn also said she would recuse herself for four years concerning the rules governing retranmission consent.

The National Association of Broadcasters had pushed for Sohn to recuse from certain broadcast issues, citing concerns about her tenure as a board member of Locast, that was ordered to shut down after illegally streaming programming.

"Ms. Sohn's recusal agreement resolves the concerns NAB raised regarding her nomination," said NAB in a statement back i January. "NAB appreciates Ms. Sohn's willingness to seriously consider our issues regarding retransmission consent and broadcast copyright, and to address those concerns in her recusal. We look forward to the Senate moving forward with Ms. Sohn's confirmation and are eager to work with her and the full complement of commissioners in the very near future," the association added.