FCC chairman Ajit Pai cancels CES appearance a week before show

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has canceled plans to appear at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) the week of Jan 8, missing the show for the first time in five years and what would have been his first appearance as head of the commission. 

Pai was scheduled to appear Jan 9, alongside the Federal Trade Commission’s acting chairwoman, Maureen Ohlhausen, as part of a “candid conversation” moderated by Consumer Technology Association president Gary Shapiro. The FCC declined to comment on Pai’s cancellation. The CTA announced the cancellation in a brief email, writing, “Unfortunately, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is unable to attend CES 2018. We look forward to our next opportunity to host a technology policy discussion with him before a public audience.”