Hi,

Comcast, Fox News, and an army of Big Cable lobbyists threw everything but
the kitchen sink at Gigi Sohn to tank her nomination to the Federal
Communications Commission — and it worked.

After 16 bruising months of vicious personal attacks and lies bankrolled
by these massive corporations and their cronies, Sohn withdrew her
nomination.^1

With Sohn now out of consideration, we’re calling on the White House to
quickly move forward a nominee who will be a champion on net neutrality
and privacy — and avoid delivering big telecommunications companies a
victory in the form of an industry-friendly pick. The American people
cannot afford to have this stalemate at the FCC any longer.

We’ve already mobilized hundreds of thousands of people to contact the
White House and U.S. Senate. But in this dangerous moment for the future
of the free and open internet, we need to make our voices heard, louder
than ever before.

[ [link removed] ]Will you donate to Demand Progress Action to support our work,
including advocating for a fifth FCC commissioner who will restore net
neutrality?

[ [link removed] ]Donate $10

[ [link removed] ]Donate $20

[ [link removed] ]Donate $40

[ [link removed] ]Or, donate another amount

As long as the fifth commissioner seat remains unfilled, the FCC will stay
deadlocked 2-2 on net neutrality and a range of other key issues,
effectively freezing in place some of the worst policies of Donald Trump’s
FCC chair, Ajit Pai, more than two years after Trump and Pai left office.

That’s why Fox News and The Wall Street Journal editorial board repeatedly
distorted and attacked Sohn’s record.^2 Fake grassroots groups poured
hundreds of thousands of dollars into false ads claiming she doesn’t
support rural broadband access or diversity.^3

The smear tactics succeeded. Key Democrats like Sen. Joe Manchin abandoned
Sohn and sided with the cable companies.^4

Let’s be clear: Gigi Sohn was a supremely qualified nominee, and she was
attacked because she would have supported net neutrality and defended the
interests of everyday Americans over Big Cable.

It’s on us to mobilize enough grassroots support to make sure the next
appointee to the FCC is just as strong on net neutrality — and isn’t left
twisting in the wind. That starts with making sure we have a nominee worth
fighting for.^5

[ [link removed] ]Will you donate $10 to Demand Progress Action to support
our work, including advocating for an FCC commissioner who will serve the
public and not Big Cable?

With gratitude for all that you do,

Tihi and the team at Demand Progress Action

[ [link removed] ]DONATE

Sources:
1. The Washington Post, "Biden FCC nominee withdraws after a bruising
lobbying battle," [ [link removed] ]March 7, 2023.
2. Fast Company, "When will Democrats deliver on their promise to restore
net neutrality?," [ [link removed] ]May 16, 2022.
3. Common Dreams, "'Infuriating': Telecom Lobbyists Spending Big Money to
Keep Gigi Sohn Off FCC," [ [link removed] ]April 28, 2022.
4. The Washington Post, "Biden FCC nominee withdraws after a bruising
lobbying battle," [ [link removed] ]March 7, 2023.
5. Common Dreams, "60+ Groups Push Biden to Pick Strong Public Interest
Nominee for FCC," [ [link removed] ]March 17, 2023.
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