President Barack Obama wants FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein to be the new head of the Rural Utilities Service.

Adelstein is the son of Sen. Stan Adelstein, R-Rapid City.

The Rural Utilities Service is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was founded during the Great Depression to bring electricity to rural residents. It has just received nearly $4 billion in stimulus money to give rural America better access to high-speed Internet and clean water.

In a news release, Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., praised Adelstein's experience.

"Jonathan's experience working on issues important to development in rural America will serve him well as the administrator for the USDA's Rural Utilities Service," Herseth Sandlin said in the release. "His focus on improving rural telecommunications and broadband as a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission will be particularly critical as we seek to enhance services available in rural communities in South Dakota and across the country."

The president did not say who would replace Adelstein, a Democrat, at the FCC. The commission normally has five members but currently has three. Without Adelstein, it would not have a quorum, so his move to the Rural Utility Service is likely to be on hold until he is replaced.

Adelstein has served on the FCC for six years.