Ajit Pai has announced he will step down as chair of the US Federal Communications Commission from 20 January 2021, when the new US President Joe Biden takes office. Pai first joined the FCC in 2012 and was named chairman in 2017 by President Donald Trump.
The members of the FCC are appointed by the President and then must be confirmed by the US Senate. The chairman and a majority of the members of the 5-seat commission are traditionally from the President's party, whereas Pai is a Republican.
Pai's decision leaves the commission with Republican Brendan Carr and the Democrats Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks. Republican Mike O'Rielly's term as commissioner expires this month, and Trump has proposed NTIA official Nathan Simington to replace him.
If Simington is confirmed by the Senate, the FCC would be divided along party lines, making it difficult to address any controversial issues until the President names a new member. A new Democrat's confirmation may also prove difficult if the Republicans maintain control of the Senate following run-off elections in Georgia.
