Color Of Change, Free Press Action and MediaJustice Urge Senate Leaders to Reject Bigoted Smear Campaign Against FCC Nominee Gigi Sohn

Color Of Change, Free Press Action and MediaJustice urged the Senate to confirm Gigi Sohn [Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society] to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) during the final days of the 117th Congress. "We are deeply concerned that antisemitic, homophobic, and racist smears against Sohn have contributed to the inaction of the Senate on her confirmation. These attacks, which reflect a nationwide rise in antisemitism and backlash against progress made by Black people, women, and LGBTQIA+ people, provide an ugly backdrop for industry efforts to maintain a 2-2 tie at the Commission. Telecommunications firms, cable companies, and licensed broadcasters regulated by the FCC are invested in stopping the agency from carrying out its mission to serve the public interest. The senseless delay in confirming Ms. Sohn only benefits large broadcasters and internet service providers and harms millions of people, especially working families trying to pay their rising monthly bills. The failure to confirm Sohn has slowed the agency’s ability to adopt policies to close the digital divide, which disproportionately impacts Black and Brown people’s internet adoption, enforces our nation’s communications law, promotes diversity and localism in broadcast ownership, and more."