Ajit Pai '97's Op-Ed on Ride-Sharing Services in LA

From the Los Angeles Times:

It's a common experience in cities like Los Angeles. You raise your hand to hail a cab. One goes by. Then another. You contemplate giving up and heading to the closest bus stop or Metro subway station. And you're left frustrated, thinking that there's got to be a better way.

Enter Uber. Uber's mobile app lets consumers arrange for a ride in a Town Car-like vehicle from their phone. Ride-sharing services Lyft and Sidecar operate in similar fashion but use privately owned cars. One plus is that the app allows you to see whether any available cars are nearby and how long it'll take before one can pick you up. Another is the payment system: Funds are deducted automatically from your pre-linked credit card, so there's no need to carry a wallet (a receipt is emailed to the customer).

Like many consumers, I love Uber. But not everyone does. Ever since Uber came to California, regulators have seemed determined to send Uber and companies like it on a one-way ride out of the Golden State. For example, the California Public Utilities Commission in November cited Uber for operating without a license, issuing a cease-and-desist notice and a $20,000 fine.

Read the rest of the article here.