Media Contact: 
Tina Pelkey, (202) 418-0536
tina.pelkey@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
CHAIRMAN PAI APPOINTS NIRALI PATEL AS SPECIAL COUNSEL
WASHINGTON, January 18, 2018—Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai 
announced the appointment of Nirali Patel as Special Counsel.  Ms. Patel joins the Office of 
the Chairman from the Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr, where she has been serving as a 
Legal Advisor since August 2017. 
“I’m pleased that Nirali is joining my office as Special Counsel,” said Chairman Pai.  “She has 
a wide range of expertise and experience in communications law and policy issues and will be 
an asset to my team.”
As a Legal Advisor to Commissioner Carr, Ms. Patel advised on media, wireless, public safety, 
international, consumer protection, and enforcement matters.  Prior to that, she served as a 
Deputy Chief in the Competition Policy Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau.  Before 
joining the Commission in January 2017, Ms. Patel was Counsel in the Technology, Media, 
and Telecommunications practice of Hogan Lovells US LLP.  Previously, she practiced 
communications law at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Sidley Austin LLP.  Ms. Patel 
graduated summa cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law and 
received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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Office of Chairman 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).