More congratulations are pouring in for new FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. Key telecom lawmakers cheered his new position while some Democrats’ good wishes came with an “ask.”
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) said: “I enjoy his can-do attitude, admire his principled transparency, and share his commitment to rural communities.”
Pai’s role marks “a new era of leadership and decision making at the FCC,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR). Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said “Commissioner Pai’s expertise on the issues has been well documented and we’re looking forward to working with him to advance conservative, thoughtful solutions at the FCC.”
House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Telecom Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Doyle (D-PA) gave warm wishes to Pai on his new role too. They said in a letter “Your success at managing such a critical agency is dependent on your ability to be responsive to members of Congress on both sides of the aisle; your willingness to drive towards consensus on major Commission actions and your respect for career staff — the lifeblood of the agency.”
They asked him to ensure the Commission briefs congressional leadership on major decisions before the FCC acts, work with his colleagues in a bipartisan way to reach consensus before making major policy decisions and not take action to “retaliate against, undermine, demote or marginalize civil servants” based on their work under the previous administration.
January 25, 2017
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