FCC Serves Up Seconds On Pai

By a vote of 52-41, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for a second five-year term. The confirmation is retroactive to July 2016, giving Pai at least another four years as Chairman. Nominated as a commissioner under former President Barack Obama, Pai was elevated to the role of Chairman in January, following the inauguration of Donald Trump. As CNET.com reports, “Democrats and consumer groups opposed Pai’s re-nomination, arguing his plans to roll back Obama-era net neutrality regulations and his easing of media ownership rules hurt consumers. But with a Republican-controlled Senate his reconfirmation was never in question.”

Following the vote, Pai released the following statement, which read, “I am deeply grateful to the U.S. Senate for confirming my nomination to serve a second term at the FCC and to President Trump for submitting that nomination to the Senate. Since January, the Commission has focused on bridging the digital divide, promoting innovation, protecting consumers and public safety, and making the FCC more open and transparent. With today’s vote, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to advance these critical priorities in the time to come.”

In response to Pai’s Senate confirmation, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith remarked, “NAB congratulates FCC Chairman Pai on being confirmed to another five-year term at the Commission. Chairman Pai understands broadcasting’s unique role as an indispensable communications medium, and we appreciate his effort to ease outdated regulatory burdens on local radio and TV. We share his vision for a vibrant communications future that allows local broadcast innovation and robust competition to largely unregulated broadband and pay programming providers.”