WASHINGTON—Ajit Pai has officially submitted his resignation as chairman of the FCC, bringing an end to his 12 years with the commission. During his dozen years, Pai spent eight as a commissioner and four as the chairman.
Pai released the following statement on his final day at the FCC:
“Serving the American people as Chairman of the FCC has been the greatest honor of my professional life. Over the past four years, we have delivered results for the American people, from narrowing the digital divide to advancing American leadership in 5G, from protecting consumers and national security to keeping Americans connected during the pandemic, from modernizing our media rules to making the agency more transparent and nimble. It has been a privilege to lead the agency over its most productive period in recent history.
“None of this—not a single action, big or small—would have been possible without the incredible staff of the FCC. They are remarkable public servants who brought to the task each day their expertise, diligence and collegiality. As I’ve had the chance to tell them during farewell events over the past week, they are inspiring public servants. I’ll miss working with our engineers, economists, attorneys, 24/7 public safety staff, consumer outreach teams, policy experts, administrative staff and many others. Their accomplishments are even more remarkable considering that they have been working from home for the past 10 months, as the FCC became one of the first federal agencies to implement comprehensive telework. I thank each and every one of our staff for their outstanding service to the Commission and to the country.
“Thank you to the American people for their support during my time at the FCC. I look forward to the next adventure.”
In addition, the Chairman’s Office released an updated document that summarizes the FCC’s accomplishments over Pai’s four years as chairman.
Pai is leaving the FCC as Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president. There has been no announcement who will succeed Pai as FCC chairman, but current FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel is reportedly a contender for the role.
