Gigi Sohn Critiques Trump’s Reforms for Broadband Program

Gigi Sohn, whose nomination to the FCC by the Democrats was viewed as too progressive, has voiced her discontent with the reforms made by the Trump administration regarding the $42.5 billion broadband program. She is reportedly collaborating with some Republican state officials to remove DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) requirements and to lessen the changes that allowed satellite internet providers into the program.

It’s interesting to note that Sohn has been quite vocal in her criticisms of Trump’s administration and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, particularly during her recent appearances on Jimmy Kimmel’s show. Yet, a significant part of her focus seems to be on challenging the changes to the broadband program influenced by the Trump administration.

On September 29th, Sohn shared her thoughts on LinkedIn, mentioning the lack of reporting about how recent changes to the broadband program have been detrimental to rural and low-income households.

So, why is Sohn upset about the NTIA’s changes? According to previous reports, there were claims that the program would help subsidize high-speed internet in underserved areas. However, it seems the initiative prioritized DEI mandates and political support over genuinely connecting rural communities. Under Biden’s administration, the program excluded low-earth orbital satellites like Amazon’s Kuiper and SpaceX’s Starlink, favoring more politically entrenched telecom and cable providers.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s administration within the Trump era removed DEI and climate mandates, making technology applicability more inclusive across the board. In areas with lower populations, satellite internet could provide effective solutions.

When the reforms were announced, Secretary Lutnick emphasized the objective of delivering high-speed internet efficiently and at a reasonable cost. It shouldn’t be surprising that Sohn is keen to counter the efforts of the Trump administration, which aimed to save taxpayers money. What’s a bit more unexpected is her apparent cooperation with Republican officials.

In Missouri, the state has requested nearly $1 billion in federal grants under the BEAD program. Despite fiber optic systems being less efficient, over 81% of funding has gone to these companies, while satellites have received only 13%. The proposal hints that satellite providers like Starlink and Kuiper could service households at around $1,500 per location, while fiber providers aim for almost $10,000 per location.

Following this proposal, Sohn congratulated BJ Tankley, the Director of Missouri’s Office of Broadband Development, citing him as one of the top state broadband executives.

Interestingly, Sohn’s left-leaning stance makes it curious for Republican state officials to partner with her. Her history of attempting to silence conservative viewpoints created hurdles in her confirmation as an FCC commissioner under the Biden administration. It was reported that she pressured a network to broadcast biased political content while also questioning some conservative reporters’ objectivity.

Sohn also co-founded Public Knowledge, advocating for the removal of conservative programming from cable networks. Recently, she has taken on the persona of a free speech advocate while criticizing Carr. In an NPR interview, she suggested that the FCC’s actions resembled bullying and blackmail of major networks.

Ultimately, Sohn’s seemingly contradictory stance towards Trump’s reforms presents a significant reason for Republican officials to reconsider any collaboration with her.