Biden Nominates 5th FCC Commissioner

[TheBigA]

The FCC has been operating with four commissioners since former Chairman Pai left in January. Today, President Biden nominated a fifth Commissioner to take the open slot, and also named Acting Chairman Rosenworcel as permanent Chair.

Biden finally makes FCC picks: Rosenworcel as chair, Gigi Sohn as commissioner

Senate can give FCC a 3-2 Democratic majority after Biden's baffling 9-month wait.

arstechnica.com

 

[ZantennaG1]

The FCC has been operating with four commissioners since former Chairman Pai left in January. Today, President Biden nominated a fifth Commissioner to take the open slot, and also named Acting Chairman Rosenworcel as permanent Chair.

Biden finally makes FCC picks: Rosenworcel as chair, Gigi Sohn as commissioner

Senate can give FCC a 3-2 Democratic majority after Biden's baffling 9-month wait.

arstechnica.com

What is your opinion of the new Commissioner Sohn and Chair Rosenworcel? Since we were talking about this on another thread, how will these two influence the policy-making of the FCC?

 

[Mikey Radio]

Best of luck to both of them and its good to see these nominations following the exit of Ajit Pai who resigned the day Biden took office. When Pai was first picked to be on the Commission I heard him speak at an industry event and liked what he had to say and he seemed to have a real interest in radio broadcasting. However, toward the end of his time on the Commission it seemed he allowed politics to be his guide at times moreso than anything. There was also the messy situation where he was accused of being in cahoots with Sinclair. The FCC Inspector General cleared Pai, but there was a later agreement that didn't sit well with some others on the Commission, where Sinclair paid multi millions of $$ in fines, in exchange for the FCC ending any and all investigations into that company's supposedly shady practices. I'm not sure they'd have more or less voluntarily paid tens of millions in fines, unless they were at risk of losing even more had the investigations continued - either in legal and other fees, or possible future fines which may have been larger, depending on what investigators turned up.

 

[TheBigA]

What is your opinion of the new Commissioner Sohn and Chair Rosenworcel? Since we were talking about this on another thread, how will these two influence the policy-making of the FCC?

I don't know much about Sohn except that she knows the FCC. I read that a lot of people bemoan the lack of regulation in radio and the power of big media. I expect this FCC to look into limiting some of the power of big media. I think they'll bring back the net neutrality rules that the previous administration repealed. If there will be any regulating of social media, it will likely be charged to the FCC, and this group will know how to do it. Congress seems to want to break up big tech. I think that hurts our competitiveness in the world, and leaves us open to more foreign domination the way it happened in manufacturing. But I'm not the one in charge.

 

[TheBigA]

I just saw this little note in the AllAccess story:

Since ROSENWORCEL's term lapsed last year, her confirmation must come before the end of 2021 to avoid the Commission becoming a 2-1 Republican majority at the end of the year.

I don't put it past the Republicans to hold up these two nominees in order to use their majority to get things they want done.

All you need is for one Senator to object, and that holds up the confirmation. They've already done that with a bunch of nominees.

 

[Mikey Radio]

I just saw this little note in the AllAccess story:

I don't put it past the Republicans to hold up these two nominees in order to use their majority to get things they want done.

All you need is for one Senator to object, and that holds up the confirmation. They've already done that with a bunch of nominees.

They'd only need to drag their feet for 65 more days - a bit more than 2 months. With the way things move at a snails' pace in government anyway, that should be an easy delay to pull off. Considering they were brash enough to delay the confirmation of Merrick Garland (while ushering in their own Supreme Court pick years later under similar circumstances), don't think they haven't though this through.

 

[davideduardo]

I think that hurts our competitiveness in the world, and leaves us open to more foreign domination the way it happened in manufacturing. But I'm not the one in charge.

There is an increasing nationalism in social media. In nations where I am involved with media or where I preserve contacts, there is a lot of push to have local versions of the favorite forms of social media, with discussion of legislation to promote this and further legislation to prevent copies from being subject to patents and copyrights.

There is, particularly, a good amount of desire to reduce American influence in social media. There is no such resistance to Chinese influence, since China is being perceived as much more of an ally in many parts of Latin America because they "stand up to America".

In several places I briefly worked on other continents such as Asia and Africa, there is even more resistance to American social media and a strong desire to have either local or regional alternatives.

 

[TheBigA]

In several places I briefly worked on other continents such as Asia and Africa, there is even more resistance to American social media and a strong desire to have either local or regional alternatives.

There was a big debate in Congress between the VP of TikTok and Ted Cruz. Ted kept asking about the role of the Chinese government if the American version of TikTok shared information with China, and the VP kept answering that they're not the same thing.

Cruz clashes with TikTok exec over Chinese espionage, propaganda allegations

Sen. Ted Cruz sparred with a TikTok executive on Tuesday over whether the video-sharing platform’s fine print gives the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ data.

www.washingtontimes.com

Asked about whether TikTok could share info with the ByteDance entity under its policies, Mr. Beckerman demurred.
“Senator, I want to be clear that that entity has no affiliation with TikTok,” Mr. Beckerman said to Mr. Cruz. “It’s based for domestic licenses of a business in China that [is] not affiliated or connected to TikTok.”

In fact at one point the VP explained that TikTok is not even available in China. But Cruz wanted to push his own views that the Chinese Communist Party is somehow influencing kids making musical videos on TikTok. I'm sure it will make for great ratings tonight on Fox News.

At some point, all this will lead to government regulations and the FCC will be involved. Amy Klobuchar says she's very close to having new federal privacy rules ready for a vote. That will be the next big battle.

 

[TheBigA]

As predicted, here's the opposition to Gigi Sohn because she supports net neutrality:

Dems’ dreams could get crushed yet again — this time, at the FCC

Republican opposition to an FCC nominee could let Sens. Manchin and Sinema decide whether Biden secures a Democratic majority at the agency.

www.politico.com

I never thought of net neutrality as a controversial thing. The repubs complain about big tech, and then oppose net neutrality.

Big tech is more than Twitter and Facebook. It's also the ISPs who want to force people to do things.

So as I said, they're going to try and hold up these confirmations so they can take over the FCC.

 

[Mediafrog+]

There is, particularly, a good amount of desire to reduce American influence in social media. There is no such resistance to Chinese influence, since China is being perceived as much more of an ally in many parts of Latin America because they "stand up to America".

Basically what we have here is the old "my enemy's enemy is my friend" philosophy at work.

However Latin America might want to be careful. On the other side of the Atlantic, many people in Africa are becoming increasingly alarmed at Chinese influence on their continent, with warnings about Chinese neocolonialism. They see the old resource and power hungry European imperialists being replaced by Chinese imperialists, building grandiose projects in Africa while drowning African governments in debt, to be paid back by exploitation of resources.

Anyone that thinks the government in Beijing gives a damn about the average person in Latin America any more than the government in Washington needs to wake up to the harsh realities of current major power politics. The attitude of "so and so is good simply because they hate the same things I do" is pretty naive.

 

[Kelly A]

I never thought of net neutrality as a controversial thing. The repubs complain about big tech, and then oppose net neutrality.

That's because most lawmakers don't understand the concept of Net Neutrality. They assume it has something to do with censorship, editorial content, or political slant. Really, it's about ISP's limiting certain media or content run through their systems, while allowing more profitable content.

Big tech is more than Twitter and Facebook. It's also the ISPs who want to force people to do things.

The political targets are always aimed at the largest target. It's like throwing a basketball into the water from a rowboat. Pretty easy target.

So as I said, they're going to try and hold up these confirmations so they can take over the FCC.

Just as Trump was threatening to 'pull the licenses' from certain cable news outlets. They didn't understand that either.

 

[davideduardo]

Anyone that thinks the government in Beijing gives a damn about the average person in Latin America any more than the government in Washington needs to wake up to the harsh realities of current major power politics. The attitude of "so and so is good simply because they hate the same things I do" is pretty naive.

But China has no history of intervention, abuse, economic exploitation, the overthrow of governments and even the separation of a territory into a new country, all of which the U.S. has in its history.

China is seen as a nation of poor people which has risen to threaten "Uncle Sam" and they are cheered for it.

One of my daughters was in Chile just before the pandemic. Chile now qualifies as a first world nation, as a point of reference. At one of the larger malls, there was a display of new car models. There were 87 cars exhibited. Two were from Korea, none from Europe, Japan or the USA. 85 were brands from China.

Chile:
China: Friend who donates Coronavirus vaccines.
US: Enemy who overthrew our government once.

 

[TheBigA]

More criticism about Biden's FCC pick Gigi Sohn:

Biden FCC Picks Get Separate Hearings After Criticism of One

Biden FCC Picks to Get Separate Hearings After Criticism of Sohn

www.bloombergquint.com

One issue is Sohn's support of net neutrality. But some senators have made it political:

“Gigi Sohn is a complete political ideologue who has disdain for conservatives. She would be a complete nightmare for the country,” Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, tweeted Tuesday. He said he’d ask senators “to reject this extreme nominee.” Graham linked to a Wall Street Journal editorial that said Sohn “wants more government control of the airwaves.”

By "government control," she favors less consolidation by big media companies.

 

[Kelly A]

So far the Republicans have blocked just about every nominee from the Biden administration. That includes ambassador posts.
I suspect this will be yet another.

 

[TheBigA]

So far the Republicans have blocked just about every nominee from the Biden administration. That includes ambassador posts.
I suspect this will be yet another.

It's the tyranny of the minority. Sooner or later it has to stop.

 

[ZantennaG1]

But China has no history of intervention, abuse, economic exploitation, the overthrow of governments and even the separation of a territory into a new country, all of which the U.S. has in its history.

USA does it to other countries, China does it to themselves, slight difference

 

[TheBigA]

The Senate will hold a committee vote for FCC Chairman Rosenworcel on Wednesday December 1:

Jessica Rosenworcel’s FCC Nomination Up For Key Vote On Dec. 1.

The Senate is moving quickly to advance the pending nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel to Chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Just two weeks after her confirmation hearing, the Senate Commerce

www.insideradio.com

There will be a separate hearing that same day on Biden's 5th commissioner Gigi Sohn. They have split them up, because some Senators are concerned about Sohn's views on net neutrality.

 

[gr8oldies]

It's the tyranny of the minority. Sooner or later it has to stop.

Sort of eventually splitting the country, I don't see how. The GQP is locking permanent minority rule in states like Texas to thwart voters in Houston, Dallas, Austin, etc.

 

[gr8oldies]

There is an increasing nationalism in social media. In nations where I am involved with media or where I preserve contacts, there is a lot of push to have local versions of the favorite forms of social media, with discussion of legislation to promote this and further legislation to prevent copies from being subject to patents and copyrights.

There is, particularly, a good amount of desire to reduce American influence in social media. There is no such resistance to Chinese influence, since China is being perceived as much more of an ally in many parts of Latin America because they "stand up to America".

In several places I briefly worked on other continents such as Asia and Africa, there is even more resistance to American social media and a strong desire to have either local or regional alternatives.

When WhatsApp is essentially "the phone company" in several countries (as we found out during the big Facebook outage) good luck with a regional competitor. Meta's pockets are extremely deep.

 

[TheBigA]

The Senate confirms Rosenworcel as FCC Chair.

Senate Confirms Jessica Rosenworcel To Lead FCC.

A glass ceiling has been broken at the FCC after the Senate voted Tuesday to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel to become the first woman to chair the agency in its 87-year

www.insideradio.com