SpectrumTalk

Comm. Adelstein:
FCC → RUS

On Friday, Reuters reported,

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - Jonathan Adelstein, a two-term commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), was nominated by the White House on Friday to an Agriculture Department agency that will play a major role in high-speed Internet expansion.

The Obama administration wants Adelstein to run the Rural Utilities Service, which is receiving economic stimulus money to issue grants and loans to increase the availability of broadband in rural areas.

The service also provides financing for water, waste, electric and other telecommunications projects.

Adelstein, a Democrat, has been a member of the FCC since 2002. His second term formally expired in June.

From the White House press release:

Jonathan S. Adelstein, Nominee for Administrator for the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture

Jonathan S. Adelstein is currently a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, where he has served since 2002, and was confirmed to a second term in 2004, where he led efforts to improve rural telecommunications and broadband. Previously, he served for fifteen years as a staff member in the US Senate, including his final seven years with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), advising him on telecommunications, financial services, housing, transportation and other key issues. Prior to that, he served as Professional Staff Member to Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman David Pryor (D-AR), including an assignment as a special liaison to Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), and earlier as a Legislative Assistant to Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (D-MI). Before his service in the Senate, he was a Teaching Fellow in the Department of History, Harvard University, while studying at the Kennedy School of Government, and a Teaching Assistant in the Department of History, Stanford University, and as a Communications Consultant to the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He received an M.A. in History and a B.A. with Distinction in Political Science from Stanford University. Born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, he and his wife, Karen, have two children, Adam and Lexi.

Acting Chmn. Copps' statement,

I congratulate my friend and colleague Jonathan Adelstein on the announcement that President Obama intends to nominate him for the critically important post of Administrator for the Rural Utilities Service. Jonathan will, upon his confirmation, bring a depth of knowledge, experience and commitment to the job that will enable him to make a huge contribution to advancing the well-being of rural America. He knows the issues and challenges inside-out and will be able to hit the ground running, which is exactly what's needed since RUS has been given such extraordinary responsibilities by the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Simply put, Jonathan’s years at the FCC have been dedicated to advancing the public interest across the wide gamut of telecommunications and media issues. He's been a true leader, an eloquent spokesman, and a delight to work with. I look forward to continuing to work with him on the issues we both believe in and to continuing the friendship that we and our families share.

When will the move take place? No official word. But it may be a while since his departure would leave FCC without a quorum - although NRC functioned without a quorum a decade ago by delegating its power to the Chairman in consultation with the 1 remaining commissioner. The RUS job needs Senate confirmation, presumably not difficult for a former Senate staffer. But the departure might have to wait for several other dominoes to fall into place.


Comm. Adelstein will be missed at FCC.