Pai Heads to Hill

In the wake of his announcement that he would start rolling back Title II classification of ISPs at the May 18 public meeting, FCC chair Ajit Pai will be paying a visit to Capitol Hill, where he received both cheers and jeers for the proposal.

Related: FCC's Pai Lauches Effort to Repeal Title II

Pai will be providing a bipartisan member briefing to the Energy & Commerce Committee, according to Hill sources familiar with the plan, who spoke on background. E&C has principal jurisdiction over communications issues.

The chairman was said to have been asked to brief Democrats on the committee before he outlined his net-neutrality plans, but deferred.

Related: Ajit Pai's Title II Speech Draws Immediate and Passionate Reaction

Pai announced April 26 that he would was proposing rolling back Title II, eliminating the "general conduct standard" in the Open Internet order, and looking afresh at the rules against blocking, throttling and paid prioritization.

E&C Republicans praised the move, while Dems vowed to fight it vigorously on all fronts.

Related: Clyburn Vows to Fight Title II Rollback

A Pai spokesperson was not available for comment at press time.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.