Headline Roundup • October 26th, 2021
Biden Nominates Two to FCC in Bid for Democratic Majority
Summary from the AllSides News Team
President Joe Biden nominated two women to the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, setting up a 3-2 Democratic majority capable of pursuing Democrats’ broadband and net neutrality goals. Driving the news is Biden’s appointment of acting FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, an outspoken advocate for expanding broadband internet access for low-income households, for permanent FCC chair. Biden also nominated Rosenworcel for an additional term, since her current term expires at the end of 2021. Biden’s other nominee is Gigi Sohn, a top advisor to former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler. If confirmed by the Senate, Rosenworcel would be the first woman to officially lead the commission, and Sohn would be the first openly LGBTQ+ commissioner.
Coverage was most common in center- and left-rated outlets on Tuesday, particularly in center-rated tech outlets. Some headlines focused primarily on Rosenworcel’s “broadband-for-all” positions, Biden’s effort to maintain a Democratic majority at the FCC, or the nominees’ status as potential firsts for women and LGBTQ+ people. Update 10/26 3:41 ET: Distinguished between Rosenworcel's appointment as FCC chair, which occurred on Tuesday, and her nomination for another term as commissioner.
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Chip Somodevilla / Staff / Getty Images
The FCC has its first-ever woman as Chair of the agency, Jessica Rosenworcel, who has been serving as acting Chair since the beginning of the year. President Biden officially appointed her to the position today, and nominated her for a new term — as well as FCC veteran and tireless policy advocate Gigi Sohn, who if confirmed would become the first openly LGBTQ+ Commissioner in history.
The appointment has been a long time coming for Rosenworcel, who has worked at the FCC for nearly 20 years, and has been a Commissioner for half that...
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Joe Biden is set to announce the first female chair of the Federal Communications Commission, according to multiple reports.
Biden will nominate Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat and the current acting head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to chair the agency as soon as Tuesday, several outlets reported. If confirmed, Rosenworcel would be the first ever woman to serve as FCC Chair in the agency’s history.
Biden will also nominate Gigi Sohn, a former FCC official and founder of technology think tank Public Knowledge, to the open Democratic seat on the commission. Sohn...
Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call
President Joe Biden named acting Federal Communications Commissioner Chair Jessica Rosenworcel to officially head the agency on Tuesday, propping her up as the administration’s leader to tackle broadband expansion and net neutrality. Biden also nominated progressive advocate Gigi Sohn as the third Democrat for the bench.
The decision comes late into Biden’s term, beating out both former presidents Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon who nominated their FCC chairs well into September of their first years. If confirmed by the Senate before December, the FCC’s 2-2 deadlock would end and provide Democrats with...
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