In 2001, Sohn co-founded consumer-advocacy group Public Knowledge, and she was president of that group until going to work for Wheeler at the FCC. Senate confirmations often take a few months or longer, but the Rosenworcel and Sohn nominations will presumably be fast-tracked given the circumstances. She is a leader in spectrum policy, developing new ways to support wireless services from Wi-Fi to video and the Internet of Things. She has fought to combat illegal robocalls and enhance consumer protections in our telecommunications policies. In her nearly 10 years as an FCC commissioner, Rosenworcel "has worked to promote greater opportunity, accessibility, and affordability in our communications services in order to ensure that all Americans get a fair shot at 21st century success," the White House said, adding:įrom fighting to protect an open Internet, to ensuring broadband access for students caught in the homework gap through the FCC's Emergency Connectivity Fund, to making sure that households struggling to afford Internet service stay connected through the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, she has been a champion for connectivity for all. The nominations were reported last night by Politico and The New York Times and announced by the White House today. That means Biden has to submit nominations to the Senate for both Rosenworcel and Sohn, and the Senate has to confirm them to avoid giving Republicans a 2-1 majority at the beginning of 2022. But Rosenworcel's current five-year term already expired, and she would have to leave the FCC entirely in January if she doesn't get a new term. Then-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler chose Sohn in 2013 to serve as his counselor, a role in which she advocated for strong net neutrality rules and Title II common-carrier regulation of Internet service providers.īiden was able to promote Rosenworcel from acting to permanent chair immediately because the president can choose any sitting commissioner as chair. Biden will also fill the empty Democratic slot on the commission by nominating Gigi Sohn, a longtime consumer advocate who was an FCC official during the Obama years. Jessica Rosenworcel, who has been acting FCC chairwoman since January, was today designated the permanent chair.
President Biden finally made his picks for the Federal Communications Commission today, ending a baffling delay that forced Democrats to operate in a 2-2 deadlock with Republicans instead of the 3-2 majority that the president's party typically enjoys.
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