Jonathan Adelstein

Jonathan Steven Adelstein
Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
President	George W. Bush
In office December 2002 – June 2009
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture
In office July 2009 – September 2012
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	James M. Andrew
Succeeded by	John Charles Padalino
Personal details
Born	Rapid City, South Dakota
Citizenship	United States of America
Spouse(s)	Karen Brenner
Residence	Washington, D.C.
Alma mater	Stanford University, M.A., History Stanford University, B.A., Political Science
Profession	Public policy
Committees	United States President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology White House Business Council

Jonathan Steven Adelstein is an American political appointee and trade association president. He was nominated to posts by Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama, serving as a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Administrator of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service.

He currently is President and CEO of PCIA - The Wireless Infrastructure Association, which represents over 200 companies that build wireless broadband facilities in the United States.

Public service

U.S. Department of Agriculture (2009-2012)

Adelstein was nominated by President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2009 to serve as the 17th Administrator of the USDA Rural Utilities Service ("RUS"). He served in the post until 2012.

As RUS Administrator, he oversaw a $60 billion portfolio of rural electric, water and telecommunications infrastructure loans. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, he led the investment of $3.5 billion in rural broadband expansion to create jobs and provide new or improved broadband service to seven million residents, businesses and community facilities. He managed the investment of over $3 billion in loans and grants in to repair and upgrade rural water and waste systems. He led RUS's $6 billion rural electric program to modernize the electric grid, and expanded investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and smart grid.

Federal Communications Commission (2002-2009)

He was previously confirmed unanimously twice by the Senate to serve as Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2002 to 2009. On the FCC, he sought to secure access to communications for everyone, including those left behind by the market. He fought for media diversity and localism, encouraging increased public access to the media to support free expression and a well-informed citizenry.

U.S. Senate (1988-2002)

Before joining the FCC, Adelstein served for fifteen years as a staff member in the United States Senate. During his final seven years on Capitol Hill, he served as a senior legislative aide to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, advising him on technology, telecommunications, financial services, budget, housing, transportation and other key issues. Previously, he served as a legislative advisor to Senator David Pryor of Arkansas, and Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr. of Michigan.

White House Councils

As a member of the Obama Administration, Adelstein was appointed as a member of the White House National Science and Technology Council, which coordinates science and technology policy across the federal government, and the White House Business Council, leading Council meetings with business leaders across America.

Academia and education

Adelstein received an M.A. in History and a B.A., with Distinction, in Political Science from Stanford University. He attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and served as a Teaching Fellow in history at Harvard and a Teaching Assistant at Stanford.