CWA Urges Senate to Confirm Gigi Sohn to FCC with Six-Figure Ad Buy

The Communications Workers of America cites imminent national broadband deployment spurred by Infrastructure bill in urgency to confirm Sohn, while dark corporate money groups aim to keep FCC in deadlock

National — The Communications Workers of America (CWA) launched a six-figure digital advertising campaign on Monday aimed at securing Gigi Sohn’s confirmation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Amid the historic $65 billion investment in national broadband deployment secured through President Biden’s Infrastructure and Jobs Act, CWA asserts in the ads that dark money corporate groups have sought to block Sohn’s confirmation in an effort to stave off FCC actions that would help ensure all Americans have reliable and affordable access to broadband.

“Gigi Sohn has long been a strong advocate on behalf of consumer broadband access, a supporter of workers in the telecommunications and technology industries, and a proponent for an open, free, and fair internet,” said Shane Larson, CWA’s Senior Director of Government Affairs and Policy. “The delay in her confirmation makes it harder for the FCC to serve the American people, which is how the corporations that the agency is meant to regulate like it. It’s past time for the Senate to confirm her so that the FCC can have a full complement of commissioners and get to work.”

The advertisements, which will run on Facebook, as well as news websites across Arizona, West Virginia, and Nevada, call on Democrats to stand up to corporate dark money and support Gigi Sohn’s nomination to the FCC so that universal broadband access and equitable deployment can become a reality.

While Sohn already has the backing of a majority of Democratic legislators, including the leadership of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce Committee, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Catherin Cortez Masto (D-NV) are viewed as key swing votes on Sohn’s nomination.

Sohn, a staunch consumer advocate who spent decades in communications policy and served as a top aide at the FCC during the Obama administration, was originally nominated to the FCC by President Joe Biden in October to fill a seat vacant since January 2021, and was renominated this January.

During the Obama administration, Sohn was instrumental in helping implement net neutrality rules that were later repealed under Trump. Those rules would ensure broadband providers treat companies and websites equally online. Sohn also worked to try and protect the jobs of working families during the merger of Sprint and T-Mobile.

In addition to support from CWA, Sohn has the backing of the Consumer Technology Association and NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, among conservative, progressive, and consumer advocacy groups.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion