Trump's new FCC boss could have a lasting effect on the internet - here's what to watch out for

President Donald Trump last week named Ajit Pai the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Pai was previously the senior GOP commissioner at the agency, nominated in 2012 by Barack Obama to serve under previous chairman Tom Wheeler.

Much like the transition from Obama to Trump, Pai's conservative leanings stand in near-total contrast to the views of Wheeler, his predecessor.

That has net-neutrality advocates worried.

Whereas Wheeler's commission took an unusually aggressive stance on regulating large internet service providers, Pai's voting record and past statements strongly suggest he will steer the agency in a more hands-off, pro-industry direction.

With a majority at the FCC, like-minded Republicans in control of Congress, and no need for Congressional approval to issue regulations (since Pai still has one year left on his five-year term), several hallmark rulings of the last commission are immediately up in the air.