FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced Monday that he'll step down from Jan 20

[sunonmars]

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced Monday that he’ll step down from his post in January

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Do Let the door hit you on the way out, you SOB and investigate the *******

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. +1

[durablend]

2. Good riddance.

[hlthe2b]

3. Like the F-wad has any choice in the matter.

Thas a'hole deserves some kind of instant karma... though I doubt it works like that.

[onenote]

6. He could have stayed on as a Commissioner until the end of June, preventing a Democratic majority

His term as a member of the Commission runs until the end of June 2021. President Biden can replace him as Chairman, but can't remove him from the FCC.

If he had stayed on, the Commission on January 21 would either have a 3-2 Republican majority or a 2-2 split. The reason for the uncertainty is that the term of Michael O'Rielly, one of the other republicans on the FCC, expires January 3, 2021 and it is unclear whether Trump's nominee to replace O'Rielly will be confirmed. If he is confirmed, then the FCC will have a 2-2 split until such time as Biden can get the Senate to confirm a fifth Commissioner (a Democrat).

While in theory Pai could have stayed on until June 30, there was never any likelihood he would do that, even if it might give the Republicans a 3-2 majority for the first months of Biden's presidency. It is traditional for the chairman to leave the Commission when a new administration takes office --- Tom Wheeler left the Commission on January 20, 2017 even though he could have stayed on (albeit not as chair) until 2018.

The reason Pai wouldn't opt to stay on, apart from tradition, is self-interest. If he wants to get a cushy lobbying or law firm job, bucking tradition to stick it to the Democrats would be a singularly bad idea since, once he was gone, he'd never get a meeting with the Democrats who would make up a majority of the FCC -- and no one will want to hire him.

[Rice4VP]

10. What do they vote on?

[onenote]

15. If you're asking what the FCC Commissioners vote on

the answer is a wide variety of regulatory and adjudicatory matters arising under the Communications Act.

Two of the biggies that are going to be getting attention after inauguration day:

Net neutrality: will a Democratic majority FCC (once one is in place) vote to reverse the Pai Commission's repeal of net neutrality rules? How long will it take (they will have to conduct a new rule making) and will the courts uphold that action.

Section 230: this is the provision of the law that gives internet sites like Facebook etc immunity from liability for material posted on their sites by others. There are those on the right and left that want to impose new obligations on internet companies and there are those on the left and right who think such regulation is outside the FCC's jurisdiction and/or in conflict with the First Amendment. Trump wanted a rule regulating the internet and arranged for a petition requesting one to be filed. The two Democrats on the FCC were opposed and two of the three Republicans were in favor. But the third Republican, Michael O'Rielly was opposed and so Trump withdrew O'Rielly's nomination for a new term and nominated a supporter of internet regulation. If that nomination goes through, Pai could try to push through the item before Inauguration day by a 3-2 vote, although it would be a break with past tradition for a lame duck FCC to act on a controversial issue after election day, and a new FCC could kill the matter or simply let it die. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

[dalton99a]

4. Goddamn corporate whore.

[mitch96]

5. First of the rats leaving the sinking ship? nt

[onenote]

7. Simply following long-standing tradition

(and self-interest).

See post #6

[roamer65]

8. It saves us from firing his sorry ass.

[onenote]

16. He can't be fired.

He only can be replaced as chair. But in theory he could continue to serve until at least June 2021 (potentially giving the Republicans a 3-2 majority on the Commission even if the chairman is a Democrat. Unlikely this will happen, however, because it is longstanding tradition for the chairman of the FCC to leave the Commission on inauguration day even if their term isn't expired.

[Rice4VP]

9. As though he had a choice

[onenote]

17. He actually does have the option of staying on as a Commissioner, not Chairman, until june 30.

But it would be a break with tradition and a self-defeating move. See post #6.

[LessAspin]

11. Ajitprop

Last edited Mon Nov 30, 2020, 06:39 PM - Edit history (1)

You can't spell Pizzagate without Pai...

Link to tweet

[SoCalNative]

12. Why wait?

Just do it now.

[LeftInTX]

18. No!! Trump will replace him with Steve Bannon or someone really gross

[Hermit-The-Prog]

13. We'll finally be rid of Verizon's mole.

[dixiechiken1]

14. Bye, Felicia.

#GTFO

[LessAspin]

19. The next Chair needs to fine the hell out of Newsmax

Link to tweet

And any other outlet that spews this crap.

[onenote]

22. The FCC doesn't have any authority to fine Newsmax for its content.

Its a cable network, not a broadcast channel.

[blogslut]

20. Bye boy, bye!

I won't miss you when you're gone!

[Blue_true]

21. President Biden needs to undo everything that pinhead has done over 4 years.

None of what he did was in the public’s best interests.

[Nimble_Idea]

23. Yeah, the bitch will 'step down' get the fuck outta here, bitch you KNOW your ass is fired

the biggest shit stain of all time