Ajit Pai
With President Joe Biden taking office on Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai concluded his four years as Chairman, along with eight years as a Commissioner and 12 years as an employee of the agency. Chairman Pai issued the following statement as he prepared to formally submit his resignation:
“Serving the American people as Chairman of the FCC has been the greatest honor of my professional life. Over the past four years, we have delivered results for the American people, from narrowing the digital divide to advancing American leadership in 5G, from protecting consumers and national security to keeping Americans connected during the pandemic, from modernizing our media rules to making the agency more transparent and nimble. It has been a privilege to lead the agency over its most productive period in recent history.
“None of this — not a single action, big or small — would have been possible without the incredible staff of the FCC. They are remarkable public servants who brought to the task each day their expertise, diligence, and collegiality. As I’ve had the chance to tell them during farewell events over the past week, they are inspiring public servants. I’ll miss working with our engineers, economists, attorneys, 24/7 public safety staff, consumer outreach teams, policy experts, administrative staff, and many others. Their accomplishments are even more remarkable considering that they have been working from home for the past ten months, as the FCC became one of the first federal agencies to implement comprehensive telework. I thank each and every one of our staff for their outstanding service to the Commission and to the country.
“Thank you to the American people for their support during my time at the FCC. I look forward to the next adventure.”
The FCC will operate with four commissioners, two Democrats and two Republicans, until Biden nominates, and the Senate confirms, a replacement for Pai as its new Chairman.
