Net Neutrality Among Subjects of Pai Jokes at Chairman's Dinner

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai took jabs at objections to the pending net neutrality order in his delivery of the traditionally whimsical keynote at the FCBA Chairman’s Dinner Thursday. He spoke as net neutrality protesters waved signs outside the Washington Hilton where the event took place (see 1712080016). A few protested Sinclair's buying Tribune. Most of his jokes got big laughs from the crowded ballroom.

Pai started by thanking attendees for coming. “I know it’s no small thing to be here,” he said. “After all, we only have seven more days to use the internet.” Pai said he had lobbied to have the event moved by a day so his speech could be part of a “Friday night news dump.” Commissioner Mignon Clyburn had slammed what she saw as news cycle manipulation by the chairman's office (see 1702030070). Pai joked he had gotten plenty of advice from Twitter on “what I can do to myself.” Noting the presence of FTC acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen, he addressed the fact that the FTC is expected to potentially play a bigger role in policing net neutrality after the FCC lifts the 2015 rules by saying: “Starting next week, Maureen has agreed to tell the jokes for me.”

Pai acknowledged colleagues in attendance. “I’m not sure if you’re here to support me or watch me fall on my face,” Pai said. “Actually, I am sure.” Pai said he was upset when anyone claims that Commissioner Brendan Carr, his former staffer, does his bidding. “I do not tell Brendan Carr what to do,” he said, slowing down for effect: FCC Chief of Staff “Matthew Berry tells Brendan Carr what to do.”

Pai repeatedly poked fun at claims he's in the pocket of industry, especially since he worked for Verizon as a young lawyer. He played a clip purporting to show Verizon’s master plan, 15 years ago, to get him elevated to chairman of the FCC and Donald Trump to the presidency. Pai offered his Democratic colleagues a strategy for staying relevant. “Leak frequently,” he joked. “You can’t set the commission’s agenda, but you can set Comm Daily’s.”

Some of the jokes were very inside. Pai offered an extended riff on Nick Degani’s short tenure as general counsel. Degani returned to his staff as senior adviser. Pai noted that Josh Gottheimer, who served a role as an enforcer under then-Chairman Julius Genachowski, was elected to the House as a Democrat from New Jersey and is a founder of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. “Washington has reached the point where Josh Gottheimer is one of the peacemakers,” Pai joked.

Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood said he gets that the chairman's dinner speech is full of inside jokes and that the dinner raises money for scholarships. “That said, it's a little hard to stomach jokes about taking away people's rights, and corporate capture at the agency, and Matt Berry giving orders to Brendan Carr,” Wood told us. “Maybe it's funny to some people because it's so true, but it's not a laugh riot for us."

Said Harold Feld, senior vice president at Public Knowledge: “There have been plenty of chairman who take the opportunity to joke about the criticism they receive from others ... It wasn't insulting to anyone by name. It didn't cross any lines. But I miss the days when the chairman's speech was seen as a genuine opportunity to have the entire community laugh at ourselves collectively.”