Pai To Team: Let’s Close The Digital Divide

In a speech to the FCC staff yesterday, newly appointed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai laid out one of his top priorities: bringing the benefits of the digital age to all Americans. Pai said there is a digital divide in this country — between those who can use services from cutting-edge communications services and those who can not.

He said, “I believe one of our core priorities going forward should be to close that divide—to do what’s necessary to help the private sector build networks, send signals, and distribute information to American consumers, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or anything else.”

Pai started in the Office of General Counsel at The FCC ten years ago. He thanked the FCC staff for all of their hard work and said no Chairman can achieve results for the American people without their help. “We need your ideas. We need your energy.” Pai also went on to say how blessed he was to achieve what he’s achieved.

Pai’s parents came to America from India 45 years ago with no assets other than $10, a transistor radio, and a desire to achieve the American Dream. “I think of all their sacrifices, all those risks they took, all those long hours they worked, all those moments when they must have worried about what the future would hold. None of them could ever have imagined that their son would have the honor of being asked to lead by the President of the United States. I hope my tenure as Chairman will show me to be worthy of the sacrifices they’ve made for me and the lessons they’ve taught me. And I’m ever grateful that this wonderful country has given me and my family the opportunity to dream big.”