Media Contact:
Matthew Berry, (202) 418-2005
matthew.berry@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
STATEMENT OF FCC COMMISSIONER AJIT PAI
On the FCC’s Continued Rush Towards Midnight Regulation
WASHINGTON, December 2, 2016.— Two weeks ago, Congress called on the FCC to respect 
the tradition followed by Democrats and Republicans alike eight years ago during the last Presidential 
transition.  Accordingly, a bipartisan majority of Commissioners at last month’s FCC meeting heeded 
Congress’s call to “avoid directing [our] attention and resources . . . to complex, partisan, or otherwise 
controversial items.”
And yet, last night, Chairman Wheeler launched yet another broadside against free data for 
consumers, notwithstanding the objections of Republican commissioners.  This end-run around 
Congress’s clear instruction is sad—and pointless.  For any unilateral action taken by the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau at the Chairman’s direction in the next 49 days can quickly be undone by 
that same bureau after January 20, 2017.
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Office of Commissioner Ajit Pai: (202) 418-2000
Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC
www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official 
action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).