WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) issued the following statement today in response to President Obama’s nomination of Ajit Pai as a Commissioner to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):

“I fully support the nomination of Ajit Pai to be FCC Commissioner. As the first Kansan to be nominated in 40 years, Ajit will bring an understanding of the challenges facing rural America at a time when many important decisions about the future of telecommunications are being discussed at the Commission. His background both at the FCC and in the private sector will also be an asset as he seeks to balance the regulatory role of the FCC with the need to encourage competition and free market principles.”

Mr. Pai is currently a partner at Jenner & Block law firm, and previously worked in the Office of the General Counsel of the FCC, where he served as Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, and Special Advisor to the General Counsel.

Prior to joining the FCC, Mr. Pai served as Chief Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights, when then-Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) served as Chairman. Mr. Pai also served as Senior Counsel in the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice and began his public sector career with the Telecommunications Task Force of the United States Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. In addition, Mr. Pai has served as Associate General Counsel at Verizon. He holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago, and is a native of Parsons, Kansas.

The FCC is directed by five Commissioners, which are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms.