Trump taps net neutrality foe for FCC chairman

By Gabby Morrongiello, Gabby Morrongiello

Published January 24, 2017

President Trump has made Ajit Pai the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, following Tom Wheeler's departure last Friday.

Pai had previously served as a Republican member of the FCC before he was chosen to lead the agency under the next administration.

"This afternoon, I was informed that [President Trump] designated me the 34th chairman of the FCC. It is a deeply humbling honor," he tweeted Monday afternoon, adding in a statement that he intends to "bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans."

Before joining the FCC in 2012, Pai served as associate general counsel of Verizon Communications Inc. and as a staffer in the Senate and Justice Department. He and Trump had met at Trump Tower earlier this month.