Facing A Fresh Confirmation Process, Gigi Sohn May Not Be Seated On FCC Until This Spring

It is beginning to look like the 2-2 deadlock that has marked the Federal Communications Commission for the past two years is not about to come to an end in the near-term, even though Democrats now have an extra vote in the Senate to confirm Gigi Sohn [Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society]. As the Senate returns from a two-week recess, there is a growing expectation that Sohn’s nomination will need to go through a full confirmation process once again – including a third hearing in front of the Senate Commerce Committee. Washington insiders say Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) is expected to go along with Republican lawmakers for a new hearing. It would be an unprecedented third time before the Committee for an FCC nominee, and it reinforces the GOP’s firm opposition against Sohn’s nomination. Her agreement to recuse herself from any decisions regarding retransmission consent for local television stations for three years was enough to secure the backing of the National Association of Broadcasters, but several Senate Republicans think her previous work for the now-closed Locast streaming TV service would continue to cause an appearance of a conflict of interest. They also note that the agreement is voluntary, meaning Sohn could rescind her decision to remain on the sidelines at any time. If a hearing is held it may not be until mid-February to early March after the Commerce Committee holds its organizational meeting.