Biden nominates censor to FCC

 Washington Examiner:

A left-wing Federal Communications Commission nominee who would be poised to implement President Joe Biden's telecommunications and technology agenda faced intense criticism from Republicans during a Senate hearing Wednesday.

Senate Republicans strongly oppose Democrat Gigi Sohn’s confirmation, criticizing her as a left-wing ideologue who would favor heavy-handed regulation, as a threat to censor conservative speech, and for her alleged conflicts of interest.

Sohn would be the third Democrat on the commission, a five-member agency in charge of regulating the TV, radio, and telecommunications industries, along with ensuring broadband internet access.

“Gigi Sohn is not fit to serve at the FCC,” Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said Wednesday. “She has deceived senators about business conflicts, recused herself from certain FCC matters, and called conservative outlets ‘state-sponsored propaganda.'”

Republicans have called into question Sohn's role as a board member of nonprofit TV streaming service Locast, which was forced to shut down last year after four major broadcast networks sued the organization for copyright infringement.

A court filing shows that the networks — ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox — were awarded $32 million in statutory damages by Locast, but documents leaked afterward show that the networks agreed to settle for just $700,000. Republicans allege that Sohn unfairly helped Locast after becoming an FCC nominee.

...

Republicans also cite Sohn's advocacy for Sinclair Broadcasting Group to lose its FCC broadcasting license and her harsh criticism of Fox News as evidence of her willingness to censor conservatives.

...

The reduced settlement came shortly after she was nominated.  It looks suspect.  I think the GOP is right not to trust her in this position.

See, also:

Sen. Ted Cruz Accuses FCC Nom Gigi Sohn of Failing to Disclose ‘Sweetheart Deal’ from Broadcasters

There is a video at this link of Cruz's examination of Sohn that is worthwhile. 

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