On Tuesday, October 26, 2021, President Biden selected Gigi Sohn to serve as a Democratic Commissioner at the FCC. To say Sohn’s nomination after months of inaction would certainly trigger Republican opposition turned out to be a bit of an understatement. Capitol Hill Republican leaders worked hard to block Sohn’s confirmation, creating a situation unlike any in recent memory — a 2-2 deadlocked FCC despite the White House and the House of Representatives each under Democratic control.
With the conclusion of the 117th Congress, Biden had a choice to make. Does his stick with Sohn or nominate someone else? The president chose the former, with the belief that the 118th Congress will say yes.