Trump renominates FCC Chair Ajit Pai for another five-year term

Enlarge / FCC Chairman Ajit Pai testifying before a Senate subcommittee on May 11, 2016. (credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump has renominated Ajit Pai to serve another term at the Federal Communications Commission, Axios reported today. The move requires Senate approval, but it is basically a formality that ensures Pai will remain on the commission throughout Trump's four-year term as president.

Pai's term on the FCC technically expired in June 2016, but the FCC's rules allow him to stay until the end of 2017 even if he isn't confirmed by the Senate for another term. The president doesn't need Senate approval to elevate an existing commissioner to the chairmanship, so Trump was able to appoint Pai chairman of the commission in January. If the Senate approves the renomination, Pai would have a new five-year term with the beginning date retroactive to July 1, 2016.

Trump met with Pai yesterday, but the topics of discussion were not disclosed. Trump's renomination of Pai was also confirmed by Bloomberg.

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