FCC chairman Ajit Pai has been trending lately because of his war on net neutrality. So, who is Ajit Pai and what is net neutrality? Read on for a short biography on the FCC chairman.

Ajit Pai Wiki: Who is Ajit Pai?

Ajit Pai was born on January 10, 1973 as Ajit Varadraj Pai in Buffalo, New York. He was raised in Parsons, Kansas by his Indian immigrant parents Varadraj Pai and Radha Pai. Both of his parents were doctors. He attended Parsons High School and was accepted into Harvard University from where he graduated in 1994 with a degree in social studies. He later got his J.D. in 1997 from the University of Chicago Law School.  

Pai worked at the Antitrust Division in the United States Department of Justice until February 2001. He then joined Verizon Communications Inc. He was hired as the Senior Counsel in the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice in 2004.  

FCC Chariman Ajit Pai swearing in ceremony, Ajit Pai has one hand on a bible, another raised up

He was nominated by President Barack Obama for a Republican Party position on the Federal Communications Commision in 2011. He took office on May 14, 2012. After his term ended in 2016, President Donald Trump made him chairman of the FCC. He is the first person of Indian ethnicity to hold the position and will remain there for five more years. 

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Ajit Pai net neutrality: What is net neutrality?

Net neutrality is basically the internet that we have now. It is a principle that prohibits internet service providers like Verizon and AT&T from speeding up, slowing down or shielding any type of content from users. Losing net neutrality might mean losing free speech, discrimination against certain websites and having to pay for preferential treatment. 

The consequences of a repeal would be devastating for marginalized groups who depend on the open internet to get their voice heard. The higher ups of the telecom companies could decide who is heard and who should be blocked. 

In April 2017, Pai proposed a repeal to net neutrality. The FCC will announce its vote on December 14, 2017.

Is Ajit Pai maried?

Pai has been married to his wife Janine Van Lancker since July 10, 2010. The couple have two children together. The family lives in Arlington, Virginia.