President Donald Trump has renominated Ajit Pai to serve another term at the Federal Communications Commission, Axios reported today. The move requires Senate approval, but it is basically a formality that ensures Pai will remain on the commission throughout Trump's four-year term as president.

Pai's term on the FCC technically expired in June 2016, but the FCC's rules allow him to stay until the end of 2017 even if he isn't confirmed by the Senate for another term. The president doesn't need Senate approval to elevate an existing commissioner to the chairmanship, so Trump was able to appoint Pai chairman of the commission in January. If the Senate approves the renomination, Pai would have a new five-year term with the beginning date retroactive to July 1, 2016.

Trump met with Pai yesterday, but the topics of discussion were not disclosed. Trump's renomination of Pai was also confirmed by Bloomberg.

“I am deeply honored to have been nominated by President Trump to serve a second term on the Federal Communications Commission," Pai said in a statement issued today. "If I am fortunate to be confirmed by the Senate, I will continue to work with my colleagues to connect all Americans with digital opportunity, foster innovation, protect consumers, promote public safety, and make the FCC more open and transparent to the American people.”

Cable lobbyists are pleased with Pai's early work as chair. "In just a few short months, Chairman Pai has embarked on a thoughtful, pro-consumer agenda that focuses on promoting Internet freedom and expanding the benefits of broadband to all Americans," said Michael Powell, CEO of NCTA—The Internet & Television Association, the cable industry's largest lobbying group. "We look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Pai and his colleagues over the coming years.” Powell was FCC chairman from 2001 to 2005.

Many of Pai's early moves have drawn criticism from consumer advocacy groups. These include a decision to end a net neutrality investigation into AT&T and Verizon Wireless, revoke a designation from nine companies that allowed them to provide subsidized broadband to poor people, halt implementation of a privacy rule that requires ISPs to protect the security of its customers' personal information, and drop the FCC's court defense of inmate calling rules that place a cap on intrastate calling rates. Pai has said he intends to overturn the FCC's net neutrality rules and classification of broadband providers as common carriers.

The FCC currently has three commissioners, two Republicans and a Democrat, but it can have up to five members. Trump and the Senate can fill the remaining two slots with a Republican and a Democrat to give Republicans a 3-2 majority. No party is allowed to have a 4-1 majority. If Trump follows previous practice, he would appoint a Democrat based on recommendations from Democratic lawmakers.

Trump last week withdrew former President Barack Obama's nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat who served on the commission until the Senate let her term expire in December.