Adelstein is the 17th Administrator of USDA’s Rural Utilities Service. He was nominated by President Obama and unanimously confirmed by the Senate this past July. Prior to this role, Adelstein was the Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. He held this position for 8 years.
Adelstein is a strong supporter of improving broadband and rural telecommunications. He believes everyone should have access to telecommunications services, regardless of where they live. He is currently overseeing a new program that will get broadband money out and according to Adelstein it will “get the funds out the door faster to stimulate the economy and create jobs.â€
Prior to his work at the FCC, Adelstein was a staff member in the U.S. Senate for 15 years. During his time in the Senate, he served as senior legislative aid to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle for 7 years as well as Professional Staff Member to Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman David Pryor. Additionally, he was a Legislative Assistant to Senator Donald W. Riegle Jr. and special liaison to Senator Harry Reid.
Before working in the Senate, he was a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University in the Department of History. He did this while he was studying at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Adelstein was also a teaching assistant at Stanford University, in the Department of History as well. Adelstein is a graduate from Phillips Academy.