President Donald Trump has picked a critic of the net neutrality rules to be chief regulatory of airwaves and internet connections in the US.
Ajit Pai has been chosen as the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commision wef 24
th Jan 2017.
Pai was also on five-member panel that regulates the country’s communications infrastructure, including TV, phone and internet service.
There are currently just three members on the panel.
The Republicans’ new majority at the FCC, along with their control of Congress and the White House, is expected to help them roll back policies for net neutrality.
Pai said he would aim for an industry friendly FCC. A deregulation-minded FCC could potentially allow more huge mergers, overturn new protections for internet users.
It could lead to higher costs for media and technology companies that rely on the internet to reach consumers.
Pai opposed online privacy regulations that force broadband providers to ask consumers for permission before using their data.
The Internet Association, a trade group that represents tech and video companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google and Netflix also lauded the move.
The FCC currently has a 2-1 Republican majority and two empty seats, which will be filled by one Republican and one Democrat.
Know More About Ajit Pai- Pai, an Indian-American from Kansas, has been an FCC commissioner since 2012.
- During 15 years in government, he’s been a Senate staffer and worked at the FCC and the Justice Department.
- He was also a lawyer for Verizon and an attorney at the law firm Jenner & Block.
