Consumer Group Stands in Strong Support for Pai Confirmation

On behalf of consumers across America, we write today to voice our strong support in favor of confirming Ajit Pai to another term as Chairman of the FCC.

At a time when nearly every idea, deliberation and decision emanating from Washington is subject to divisive partisan fights and ideological squabbles, Chairman Pai has been the calm, knowledgeable and reassuring voice who puts his duties as a public servant beyond political considerations.

Chairman Pai is further a proven reformer, who has worked to fix many of the stale, wasteful and counter-productive practices of the Commission, which are preventing it from truly serving the needs of our nation and holding it back from adequately addressing the rapidly changing landscape of our communications future. Through thoughtful deliberation and a visionary approach, Chairman Pai is working tirelessly to bring his agency in line with the times.

Just as importantly, Chairman Pai has demonstrated that he is a keen visionary in letting the power of the market set the course for our digital future, away from the prying hands of bureaucrats and lawmakers who seek to highjack it for their own agenda. He has a deep respect for the proper limits of the law and profound knowledge of how free-markets and ‘light touch’ regulation from government are the ingredients that spark the innovation that leads to more freedom, more prosperity, and more possibilities for all Americans.

We saw Chairman Pai’s commitment to principle and his respect for free markets firsthand through his thoughtful and appropriate decision to dislodge the internet from Title II “Ma Bell” regulations imposed by his predecessor, which put the internet under the control of federal bureaucrats, politicians and special interests. Despite the harsh and often hostile attacks from his critics, Chairman Pai stuck to his convictions and moved forward to reverse this harmful government overreach.

Chairman Pai is by far the most distinguished, accomplished, and qualified person to head the FCC . We are fortunate to have him as the leader of such a critical and powerful agency which holds so much sway over the future of innovation and the free exchange of ideas in our nation. On behalf of America’s consumers who use and enjoy the numerous benefits of our nation’s many communications possibilities, we urge another term for Ajit Pai as FCC Chairman.