Net neutrality proponent Mignon Clyburn announces plans to step down from the FCC

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The FCC may have voted to kill net neutrality on last year but not everybody on the commission agreed with Chairman Ajit Pai's plan.

Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworscel were both strong net neutrality advocates. Indeed, the former called the plan "fiercely-spun" and "legally-lightweight" during the vote.

Unfortunately for net neutrality proponents, Commissioner Clyburn has decided to step down from her position on the FCC. In a meeting today, the Commissioner thanked her colleagues for their support over the years, adding that the lessons they taught her helped her to become the person she is today.

"It's been the most incredible opportunity for me," Clyburn said in a statement. "In my wildest dreams, if I could have crafted my destiny, I never would have dreamed of this. So I want to thank all of you for making that possible and more."

Commissioner Clyburn was initially appointed to the FCC in 2009 by former president Barack Obama. She later played a significant role in the successful implementation of 2015's net neutrality regulations.

Clyburn didn't explain how she arrived at her decision to leave the FCC but it's possible her strong policy disagreements with Chairman Ajit Pai factored into her thought process.

Even with their past disagreements in mind, Pai expressed his gratitude for Commissioner Clyburn's service and candor in a statement today.

"I congratulate Commissioner Clyburn on her distinguished tenure at the FCC," he said. "I have enjoyed working with her and, even when we have not seen eye-to-eye on policy, I have always held her candor and thoughtfulness in the highest regard."

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Clyburn didn't explain how she arrived at her decision to leave the FCC but it's possible her strong policy disagreements with Chairman Ajit Pai factored into her thought process

Yes, it's possible... it's possible she won the lottery, it's possible she wants to 'spend more time with her family' and it's possible (and more likely) that she's getting a much better job that pays more - probably not in govt.

Personally - I think it's really cool to see someone leave in a situation like this and neither her, nor the boss Ajit Pai, turned it into a political argument about their past disagreements... no matter how much the media may try to turn it into one. Glad to see there are some adults left out there.
 
Personally - I think it's really cool to see someone leave in a situation like this and neither her, nor the boss Ajit Pai, turned it into a political argument about their past disagreements... no matter how much the media may try to turn it into one. Glad to see there are some adults left out there.
Interesting comment.

I could fundamentally disagree with a business' polices and refuse to work for them or quit and leave it at that. That does not make the argument political. I could fundamentally disagree with a research organization's way of doing research and refuse to work for them or quit and leave it at that, and that does not make it political, either. Nor does my refusal to work for them or my action of quitting working for them make my actions any less adult. In fact, it probably makes my actions more adult because recognizing that there is a fundamental difference in the way that an employer does business that conflicts with my principles in such a way as to make my employment with them painful and that to find an employer who's practices align with mine such that it would make my employment with them comfortable is an adult decision in the first place.

The comments that I see that are making this political are yours.
 
The comments that I see that are making this political are yours.

I'm not talking about agreeing with a business' policies or quitting because your beliefs or any of that. I'm talking about publicly airing your disagreement after you leave. They didn't do that.. even if they had a disagreement - we don't know about it. That's all I meant... I wasn't starting a discussion about standing up for your principals.
 
Yes, it's possible... it's possible she won the lottery, it's possible she wants to 'spend more time with her family' and it's possible (and more likely) that she's getting a much better job that pays more - probably not in govt.

Personally - I think it's really cool to see someone leave in a situation like this and neither her, nor the boss Ajit Pai, turned it into a political argument about their past disagreements... no matter how much the media may try to turn it into one. Glad to see there are some adults left out there.
I think you're discounting the possibility she was just as likely to have been forced out
 
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