President Donald Trump has named Indian-American Ajit Pai as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the federal authority that regulates cellphone spectrum and services, radio, television, phone, internet and satellite and cable.
As one who has already served as a Commissioner at FCC for five years, the 44-year-old Pai thanked President Trump for his elevation as the country’s new chief telecommunications regulator and said he would strive to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans.
“There is so much we can do together to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans and to promote innovation and investment. From broadband to broadcast, I believe in a 21st-century version of Jefferson's 2nd Inaugural: we are all Republicans, we are all Democrats,” Pai said in a Twitter post.
A strong advocate of limited government and a free-market approach marked by fewer regulations, Pai has been a strong critic of the new net neutrality rules. A long-time Washington lawyer, Pai has also served in the Senate and at the Justice Department.
Pai is the fifth Indian-American to be tapped by Trump for key positions in his administration. The other picks from the community include Nikki Haley as US Ambassador to the United Nations, Seema Verma as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Preet Bharara as US Attorney for Southern District of New York, and Raj Shah as Deputy Assistant and Research Director at the White House.
One more Indian-American under Trump’s consideration for a key appointment is Balaji Srinivasan, CEO of Bitcoin startup 21 Inc., to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Srinivasan is being considered along with Jim O’Neil, a former official at the Department of Health and Human Services under the George W. Bush administration.