Thread by @TimKarr

Ajit Pai: Profile in Courage

Later today, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is speaking at the #CPAC2018 convention in Washington. The actual title of his speech is "American Pai: The Courageous Chairman of the FCC.”

Here’s a history of this humble public servant’s incredible bravery:

Pai repeatedly ignores the outcry from Americans across the political spectrum (including more than 3 out of 4 Republicans) who support protections for the open internet…

…Instead, he parrots talking points provided by Comcast and AT&T lobbyists, who falsely paint #NetNeutrality as a left-right issue. publicconsultation.org/united-states/… #CPAC2018 #AmericanPai

Pai routinely ducks questions from any reporter who challenges his made-up numbers on the state of broadband investment since #NetNeutrality rules went into effect in 2015…

…But according to all available market data ISPs are investing more not less, despite Pai’s lies to the contrary. wired.com/story/the-fcc-… #CPAC2018 #AmericanPai

Pai often boasts that he's a deregulator, but he's more than eager to break with principle and impose new regulations when it helps a corporate crony…

…But in 2017 Pai reinstated the analog-era “UHF discount,” an obsolete regulatory loophole that lets Sinclair Broadcast Group fudge its numbers on station ownership and gobble up more local, independent TV stations. msn.com/en-us/money/co… #CPAC2018 #AmericanPai

As the country’s top communications official, Pai claims to be an outspoken champion of the First Amendment…

…But when President Trump threatened to censor NBC News outlets by pulling their broadcast licenses, Pai stood silent, yet again dodging questions from the press asking him to defend freedom of speech. freepress.net/sites/default/… #CPAC2018 #AmericanPai

Pai continues to avoid efforts by prosecutors seeking to investigate the hundreds of thousands of faked comments that were submitted by mysterious bots as the agency was weighing its 2017 #NetNeutrality decision…

…The majority of these fraudulent comments supported Pai’s widely unpopular decision to allow companies like AT&T and Comcast censor and throttle internet traffic: medium.com/@AGSchneiderma… #CPAC2018 #AmericanPai

Everything Pai has done since becoming chair goes against his day-one pledge “to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans”…

…Instead of expanding internet access, Pai's administration has undermined the agency’s Lifeline program, created under Reagan to better support affordable access to modern communications. wired.com/story/ajit-pai… #CPAC2018 #AmericanPai

Pai teamed up with phone company lobbyists in support of a push to take away basic online privacy protections from internet users — little surprise given his many friends and allies within the phone and cable lobby…

…and he was first to applaud members of Congress who ignored the bipartisan public outcry and allowed these companies to collect our online histories for sale to the highest bidder. freepress.net/press-release/… #CPAC2018 #AmericanPai

Chairman Pai has avoided holding public hearings outside Washington to face widespread anger over his decisions, instead preferring appearances at closed and carefully scripted DC venues, surrounded by his most fervent ideological allies. #CPAC2018 #AmericanPai