Benton Welcomes New Senior Fellow and Public Advocate Gigi Sohn

Benton Foundation Executive Director Adrianne B. Furniss named Gigi Sohn Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate. Furniss said, “The Benton Foundation is honored to support the ongoing work of one of the nation’s leading public advocates for open, affordable, and democratic communications networks. As federal and state policymakers change rules that will impact communications for years to come, there is no better spokesperson than Gigi Sohn to raise the profile of issues like net neutrality, privacy, broadband access and affordability, and competition so that all Americans understand what’s at stake.”

Broadband internet access has become essential to full participation in our society, our economy, and our culture. Sohn will continue to broaden citizen awareness and action through three strategies:

1. Public Voice: Communicating what is at stake in telecommunication debates in ways that ordinary people can understand; and educating and providing comment for national, local, and trade press on various communications and technology policy issues.  Sohn seeks both greater coverage of these issues by the press and greater understanding of these issues by the public.
2. Coalition Building:  Identifying, organizing, and activating partners from public interest groups, state and local representatives, and companies large and small.
3. Support for the Field: Ensuring that the community fighting for public interest communications policies is adequately resourced with the funding, contacts, and strategic guidance it needs to be effective.