Taxpayer Group Backs Call for Hearing on Sohn and Locast
The Senate Commerce Committee “should heed” a request by ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., to hold a hearing on ethics concerns about Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn’s role as a board member for Locast operator Sports Fans Coalition, due to…
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the shuttered sports rebroadcaster’s $32 million lawsuit settlement (see 2201180064), the Taxpayers Protection Alliance said Thursday. “It’s troubling that Sohn signed a $32 million settlement agreement with broadcasters and now wants to regulate them,” said TPA Telecom Policy Director Johnny Kampis. “This raises serious conflicts of interest concerns.” Senators need “all of the facts before voting on Sohn’s confirmation and they don’t have them yet,” Kampis said. He cited “reports that Sohn was negotiating a recusal deal with broadcasters to address those concerns, but those negotiations have not been made public.” Americans for Tax Reform said Wednesday it backs additional scrutiny of Sohn. Recusal agreements like the one Sohn is reportedly negotiating “have no force of law,” said ATR Federal Affairs Manager Katie McAuliffe. “A recusal from ruling on broadcast licenses, retransmission or copyright relating to the parent companies of ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, who filed suit against Locast, would severely limit” Sohn’s “ability to do any of the primary work of the Commission.” Consumer Action for a Strong Economy and FreedomWorks also support Wicker's hearing request. Senate Commerce Democrats are highly unlikely to agree to hold the hearing (see 2201130071). The White House and committee didn’t comment.