Telecom Law Monitor

Changes at the FCC moved one step closer to fruition this week. On March 25, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee confirmed that the White House has transmitted the nomination of Julius Genachowski to be Chairman of the FCC. No word yet on when the Senate will conduct confirmation hearings.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, whose term had expired in 2008, has been nominated to head the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The RUS oversees grants and loans to support rural broadband service, and will have the responsibility to distribute $2.5 billion in stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Commissioner Adelstein has a history of supporting service in rural America.

We can think of no one better equipped to run the RUS in this important time for the entity.