FCC Commissioner Pai’s Bully Pulpit Grab Leads to Pushback

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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler has used his “bully pulpit” powers to get broadcasters and cable operators to commit to improving their closed captions and wireless companies to agree to cellphone unlocking. But he has the ability to back that “speak softly” -- and sometimes loudly, as with cellphones -- approach with agenda items and FCC bureau actions. Meanwhile, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai has managed to parlay his own bully pulpit into one of the highest profiles for a minority commissioner in recent memory, including appearances on cable news networks and headlines generated in major newspapers. Commissioner Pai recently has been heralded in some quarters as something of a First Amendment savior.


FCC Commissioner Pai’s Bully Pulpit Grab Leads to Pushback