Sohn Stands Tall As Senate Commerce GOP Wants Locast, Recusal Answers

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — One week after a second nomination hearing for Gigi Sohn to serve as the FCC‘s fifth Commissioner was originally set to take place, the Counselor to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler appeared solo Wednesday morning in front of the Senate Commerce Committee.


While Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) spoke warmly of Sohn, Republican members — led by its Ranking Member — came armed with questions for Sohn on two key topics. First, her ties to now-shuttered “vOTA” service Locast and the timing and monetary value of its settlement agreement with the “Big Four” networks needed further explanation. Second is her decision, after her first nomination hearing held in December 2021, to sit out on matters involving retransmission consent or TV broadcast copyright for the first three years of her term.

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