According to The Washington Post, President Biden’s choice to fill the fifth and pivotal seat on the Federal Communications Commission — Gigi B. Sohn — has notified the White House that she would step aside, ending a contentious 16-month battle between Republicans and Democrats over her past alliance with now-shuttered IPTV service Locast and, among other things, tweets in her role as an advocate that were critical of Fox News.
In a statement shared by the Post, Sohn said that on Monday night, after discussions with her family and careful consideration, she made the decision to ask President Biden to withdraw her nomination to the FCC.
Sohn was blunt in her reasons for withdrawing as a FCC Commissioner nominee.
“When I accepted his nomination over sixteen months ago, I could not have imagined that legions of cable and media industry lobbyists, their bought-and-paid-for surrogates, and dark money political groups with bottomless pockets would distort my over 30-year history as a consumer advocate into an absurd caricature of blatant lies,” she said. “The unrelenting, dishonest and cruel attacks on my character and my career as an advocate for the public interest have taken an enormous toll on me and my family. Unfortunately, the American people are the real losers here.”
Now, as Sohn puts it, “The FCC deadlock, now over two years long, will remain so for a long time.”
She continued, “As someone who has advocated for my entire career for affordable, accessible broadband for every American, it is ironic that the 2-2 FCC will remain sidelined at the most consequential opportunity for broadband in our lifetimes.”
Sohn elaborated on the issue, which focuses on her support of “net neutrality,” something the Pai Commission erased on the grounds that Title II classification of broadband was an improper move by the Wheeler Commission under President Obama.
“It is a sad day for our country and our democracy when dominant industries, with assistance from unlimited dark money, get to choose their regulators,” Sohn said. “And with the help of their friends in the Senate, the powerful cable and media companies have done just that.”
Sohn concluded her statement by thanking President Biden “for his faith in me and for my champions in the Senate who defended me at every turn … I will forever be grateful for their efforts on my behalf. I hope the President swiftly nominates an individual who puts the American people first over all other interests. The country deserves nothing less.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a briefing today (3/7) that the White House did not have any updates at this time on future nominees.
“We appreciate Gigi Sohn’s candidacy for this important role,” Jean-Pierre said. “She would have brought tremendous intellect and experience, which is why the president nominated her in the first place.”
On Capitol Hill, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas), one of her biggest foes, commented, “The withdrawal of Ms. Sohn’s nomination is a major victory and represents a strong bipartisan agreement that we need a fair and impartial candidate who can receive the support needed for confirmation. The FCC is not a place for partisan activists; free speech is too important. Now, it’s time for the Biden administration to put forth a nominee who can be confirmed by the full Senate and is committed to serving as an even-handed and truly independent regulator.”
For more on Gigi Sohn and her now-concluded quest to be sat as a fifth FCC Commissioner, visit the RBR.com archives.
