The Senate Commerce Committee included Gigi Sohn in a long list of nominees it intends to vote on tomorrow.
She’s promised, if confirmed to the Democratic open seat at the Commission, to recuse herself from votes involving television retransmission consent or broadcast copyright decisions. Sohn had been on the board of TV station streamer Locust; a court ruled the company violated copyrights by streaming broadcasts without permission, reported NextTV. Inside Towers noted that during her nomination hearing, GOP Senators repeatedly questioned Sohn about the role.
Once the recusal agreement was struck, new NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt said it solves the broadcast association’s concerns, saying it “appreciates” her “willingness to seriously consider our issues…and to address these concerns.”
New Street Research Policy Advisor Blair Levin wrote in a client note: “Given the large number of questions Sohn faced in the oral and written testimony regarding broadcast issues, we see this endorsement as a very positive sign for the nomination.”
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