FCC Chair Ajit Pai Cancels CES Appearance After Death Threats

LAS VEGAS, NV - Death threats have led Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to cancel his scheduled appearance at this month's Consumer Electronics Show, according to reports from Recode and Wall Street Journal.

According to the report, the threats were enough to garner the attention of federal law enforcement. Pai was scheduled to appear at the massive technology convention that starts Sunday in Las Vegas. A spokesperson for Pai and representatives of the convention declined to comment, but Recode reported the death threats citing "two agency sources."

Pai has received backlash after leading a charge to repeal net neutrality laws. Critics of the decision say that removing the regulations - which classified the internet as a public utility - will open the door for internet providers to charge for access to certain services.

More from Las Vegas Patch: Net Neutrality: How Major ISPs Are Spending Money In Nevada

Last year's CES attracted over 184,000 people and over 4,000 companies. The 2018 convention runs from Sunday, Jan. 7 to Friday, Jan. 12.

Image via Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press