| Friend,
EXCELLENT NEWS: President Biden has at long last nominated two strong advocates to staff the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Yesterday he named Jessica Rosenworcel as chairwoman, a position she’s held on an interim basis since the inauguration, and he named Gigi Sohn to fill the fifth and final commissioner’s spot.
Having people like Rosenworcel and Sohn who will champion the public interest — especially the interests of Black, Brown and Indigenous communities — is critical to restoring Net Neutrality, making sure that people across the country have access to high-speed internet and ensuring that U.S. communications policy is equitable.
Urge the Senate to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel and Gigi Sohn without delay.
While Free Press Action and our allies applauded yesterday’s news, it’s not all sunshine and roses.
The administration now faces a serious time crunch. Senate confirmation of Rosenworcel and Sohn could take months, but the FCC could have a 2–1 Republican majority come January if the Senate fails to act quickly. This means we’d have to wait even longer to undo the many harms of the Trump era — like its abandonment of “Title II” authority to regulate broadband. Without Title II, the agency has been unable to ensure that internet service providers don’t cut off people’s service in the midst of the pandemic.
We need to make sure the FCC nominees are confirmed before Congress heads home for the holidays. Tell your senators to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel as chairwoman and Gigi Sohn as a commissioner ASAP.
Thanks for all that you do—
Heather, Lucia, Matt and the rest of the Free Press Action team
freepress.net
P.S. The White House has finally nominated public-interest champions to take control of the FCC. But we need the Senate to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel and Gigi Sohn ASAP because we can’t wait any longer to get Net Neutrality, broadband justice and media-ownership opportunities for people of color back on the agenda. Tell the Senate to confirm Rosenworcel and Sohn before Congress leaves for the holidays. |
