Ajit Pai

Ajit Pai, born on January 10, 1973, is a prominent American lawyer who made significant contributions to telecommunications policy as the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2017 to 2021. The son of Konkani Indian immigrants, Pai grew up in Parsons, Kansas, and pursued higher education at Harvard University and the University of Chicago Law School.

His career began in various roles within the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, followed by a two-year position as an in-house lawyer for Verizon Communications. In 2007, he joined the FCC as a lawyer in its Office of General Counsel, eventually being nominated as a commissioner by President Barack Obama in 2011. His confirmation by the U.S. Senate came on May 7, 2012, and he was sworn in shortly thereafter.

In January 2017, following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Pai was designated as the FCC chairman, becoming the first Indian American to hold this position. His tenure was marked by a controversial push to repeal net neutrality regulations, culminating in a decisive vote on December 14, 2017, to reverse the classification of the internet under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. He was confirmed for an additional five-year term on October 2, 2017.

After resigning from the FCC on January 20, 2021, the same day Joe Biden was inaugurated as President, Pai transitioned to the private sector. In April 2021, he became a partner at Searchlight Capital and is set to take on the role of president and CEO of CTIA on April 1, 2025.