Ex-FCC Chair Ajit Pai is now a wireless lobbyist—and enemy of cable companies

Pai's return as CTIA lobbyist fuels industry-wide battle over spectrum rights.

Jun 9, 2025 - 14:20

Ex-FCC Chair Ajit Pai is now a wireless lobbyist—and enemy of cable companies

Ajit Pai is back on the telecom policy scene as chief lobbyist for the mobile industry, and he has quickly managed to anger a coalition that includes both cable companies and consumer advocates.

Pai was the Federal Communications Commission chairman during President Trump's first term and then spent several years at private equity firm Searchlight Capital. He changed jobs in April, becoming the president and CEO of wireless industry lobby group CTIA. Shortly after, he visited the White House to discuss wireless industry priorities and had a meeting with Brendan Carr, the current FCC chairman who was part of Pai's Republican majority at the FCC from 2017 to 2021.

Pai's new job isn't surprising. He was once a lawyer for Verizon, and it's not uncommon for FCC chairs and commissioners to be lobbyists before or after terms in government.

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