On March 7, 2017, President Donald Trump re-nominated Ajit Pai to serve another five-year term on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). One of President Trump’s first official acts was designating Commissioner Pai as the new FCC chairman to replace outgoing Obama-pick Tom Wheeler. As an outspoken opponent of “Net Neutrality,” Pai’s appointment as FCC chairman marked a major milestone toward ending government regulation of the Internet. On December 14, 2017, the FCC — with Pai at the helm — voted 3-2 to end Net Neutrality.
The Senate confirmed Ajit Pai on October 2, 2017 by a vote of 52 to 41 (Roll Call 209). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the U.S. Constitution does not authorize the federal government to get involved in the Internet, which operates best without intrusive government regulation.
