Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai was confirmed Monday by the U.S. Senate for another five-year term on the telecommunications regulatory panel.
The vote was 52-41 with Sen. Jim Inhofe supporting Pai.
“As chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai has demonstrated solid leadership by promoting effective, light-touch regulations and enacting meaningful reforms to promote transparency,” said the Senator following his vote. “Chairman Pai understands the role the FCC has in developing our nation’s infrastructure and I am pleased he was confirmed to another five-year term.”
But Pai has some obvious challenges as the FCC will decide over dismantling Obama-era internet protections and a major TV station merger.
Democrats were critical of Pai for moving to deregulate U.S. telecommunications rules. He is a former Justice Department, FCC and Capitol Hill staffer who vowed months ago to take a “weed whacker” to what he feels are unneeded rules.
In a statement on Monday, Pai pledged to continue to focus “on bridging the digital divide, promoting innovation, protecting consumers and public safety, and making the FCC more open and transparent.”
He has been a member of the FCC since March 2012 and was promoted to chairman by President Donald Trump in January.
