Gone like the wind - Chairman Ajit Pai will step down FCC on Jan 20

[williamcll]

Covered by Techlinked already, having been rather infamous for the past 4 years, Ajit Pai will be stepping down as chairman of FCC when it will be replaced by the new US president's choice.

Quote

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai will step down from his post on Jan. 20, the day President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated, he announced Monday.

 

Pai’s decision to step down could have significant implications on net neutrality, an issue that helped define his term as chairman. In 2017, Pai voted with his fellow Republican commissioners to remove rules that prohibited internet providers from blocking or slowing traffic to particular sites and offering higher speed “lanes” at higher prices. Many major internet providers have not yet taken advantage of that rule change, however. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve at the Federal Communications Commission, including as Chairman of the FCC over the past four years,” Pai said in a statement.

 

“I am grateful to President Trump for giving me the opportunity to lead the agency in 2017, to President Obama for appointing me as a Commissioner in 2012, and to Senate Majority Leader McConnell and the Senate for twice confirming me.  To be the first Asian-American to chair the FCC has been a particular privilege.  As I often say: only in America.”

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/30/fcc-chairman-ajit-pai-will-step-down-on-january-20.html
Thoughts: Good? Bad? I honestly don't know what's a good replacement for him that Joe Biden could pick from the people he knows. Would it also mean his rulings be overturned?

[bellabichon]

I wonder if he'll go back to Verizon, or maybe he'll start at AT&T. Wherever he can screw over the largest number of people daily, I suppose. 

[Moonzy]

inb4 gets political

 

friendly reminder of CS before you reply

[ARikozuM]

In all honesty, I don't really see Biden choosing anyone who would make a difference towards consumers' rights or stopping "deals" for more competition. 

[Arika]

Hope the next person is better.

 

But they might trip over that low bar 

[SpaceGhostC2C]

4 minutes ago, williamcll said:

I honestly don't know what's a good replacement for him that Joe Biden could pick from the people he knows. 

I think I could live with plain incompetence, provided it is someone who doesn't see himself as more in the payroll of the telcos than the government.

I don't live in the US, but unfortunately I'm not completely immune to FCC rulings either.

[Jinchu]

1 hour ago, SpaceGhostC2C said:

I think I could live with plain incompetence, provided it is someone who doesn't see himself as more in the payroll of the telcos than the government.

I don't live in the US, but unfortunately I'm not completely immune to FCC rulings either.

The way I look at this is that Biden needs to have telcos on his side to have any hope with the renewable energy stuff hi is pushing. So from that angle it is likely that thif FCC position will go someone else as much on their payroll as Ajit Pai.

[Commodus]

Can't happen soon enough. The guy was so transparently corrupt that he "joked" about being on the take in a video. If you have even a shred of integrity, you don't make light of that.

 

I'm hoping his successor is more like Tom Wheeler (i.e. meaningful policies) and less like Julius Genachowski (lots of talk, not as much action). Either way, this person will likely be miles better than Pai... not that it's particularly difficult.

[Fnige]

19 hours ago, Commodus said:

Either way, this person will likely be miles better than Pai... not that it's particularly difficult.

I have a feeling that its possible to get someone worse.

[Trik'Stari]

2 minutes ago, SlimyPython said:

I have a feeling that its possible to get someone worse.

With government, that is always possible.

 

Good riddance.

[Beskamir]

Looks like all the hard work and dedication he put into serving his corporate friends finally got to him. Poor guy, burnout really sucks but at least he can keep his "hardest working man in corruption" award.

 

(Obviously I'm being sarcastic and glad he's finally getting kicked out)

[Rune]

Good. Need to start fixing the crap he ruined coming into office. Internet speeds have stopped increasing and, at least anecdotaly for me, decreased in reliability the last 2 years or so. Competition is good. Bribery is bad.

[Silentprototipe]

Welp, That was awfully short. We will still never let him live down how he tried to pitch removing net neutrality to us like were morons 

[Commodus]

8 minutes ago, Silentprototipe said:

Welp, That was awfully short. We will still never let him live down how he tried to pitch removing net neutrality to us like were morons 

Not that he really had much choice. His term was still due to expire in June, and you know Biden wasn't going to tolerate Pai's policies for five months out of decorum. This gives Biden a chance to repair Pai's damage starting on day one.

[BuckGup]

Isn't this considered a political post? Besides that I am glad that smug faced idiot with his over sized Reeses cup is gone

[Fnige]

1 hour ago, BuckGup said:

Isn't this considered a political post? Besides that I am glad that smug faced idiot with his over sized Reeses cup is gone

I think it is political + tech hence the message that was added at the top

[Nowak]

On 12/2/2020 at 7:07 AM, Rune said:

Good. Need to start fixing the crap he ruined coming into office. Internet speeds have stopped increasing and, at least anecdotaly for me, decreased in reliability the last 2 years or so. Competition is good. Bribery is bad.

Also don't forget Comcast imposing data caps!

[GDRRiley]

who will get him now? Verizon, Comcast ,AT&T? its got to be someone who he made happy

[Brooksie359]

49 minutes ago, Nowak said:

Also don't forget Comcast imposing data caps!

Was that not a thing before he was head of the FCC? I can't remember but I thought they had been around for awhile already. 

[WkdPaul]

* thread cleaned *

 

As per the CS and the note on this thread, stay clear of political discussion.

[DeScruff]

Well lets hope that big ol Coffee mug didn't leave any rings on the desk.

[RGProductions]

lol can't say im surprised

not that I have much faith in either party to be able to put up a showing much better than him