FCC's Adelstein named for US rural broadband job

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. (Reporting by John Crawley; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)