FCC Chairman Pai's Response to Senators Regarding the E-Rate Modernization Progress Report

On March 7, a dozen US senators wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai with “serious reservations” about his decision to “set aside, rescind, and retract” the FCC’s E-rate Modernization Progress Report.

On March 22 Chairman Pai replied saying, “The report at issue was released in the last days of the previous Administration. Not only were Commissioners not given the traditional 48 hours to review it, but it was not shown at all to Commissioners before being released. This was unacceptable and an abuse of the FCC's processes. Reports like this should not be (and henceforth, will not be) issued without advance notice being provided to Commissioners. Revocation simply affirms that a report issued improperly has no legal or other effect going forward and does not necessarily reflect the views of a majority of Commissioners. With that said, the report will remain available on the agency's website for public review.”