Trump’s FCC chairman Ajit Pai is ‘one of the worst picks possible,’ Rep Ro Khanna says

Rep Ro Khanna (D-CA), a congressman in his first term representing California’s 17th district, is quick to denounce President Donald Trump. But he also doesn’t mince words about President Trump’s FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai. “I think he’s one of the worst picks possible in government,” Rep Khanna said of Chairman Pai. “Did you see the Charter decision? It’s appalling.” The “Charter decision” refers to a recent unanimous FCC vote ruling that Charter Communications would not have to expand high-speed internet access into areas already covered by competitors like Comcast.

“I don’t know as much about technology as some of the people I represent, but I know this: We invented the internet, we invented a lot of broadband,” Rep Khanna said. “Why are we paying five times more than people in Europe? The reason is, it’s basically a monopoly here.” “[Pai] is carving up the map, no competition,” he added. “And the people who suffer the most are — actually — Trump voters, in rural America! They’re the ones whose prices go up. They’re the ones who have to think, ‘Do I subscribe to the internet or not? Do I get fast service?’ He has been a mouthpiece for telecom companies in one of the most economically concentrated industries in the country.”