Ajit Pai announced this week the formation of the Office of Economics and Data to analyze the economic impact of rulemakings, transactions, and auctions, as well as to conduct long-term research. In a speech at the Hudson Institute, the chairman said, “I see the Office of Economics and Data playing. . .roles that traditionally have been assumed by economists and other experts scattered across the agency.” Commissioner Michael O’Rielly called the initiative “laudable.”