Wireless infrastructure trade association PCIA named Jonathan Adelstein CEO and president, replacing outgoing CEO and President Michael Fitch who announced plans to step down from his position earlier this year. Adelstein previously served as Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service as well as a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission from 2002 to 2009.
Adelstein is set to assume leadership at PCIA beginning Sept. 17, just head of the trade organization’s annual trade show set to begin Oct. 1 in Orlando, Fla. Adelstein served at the FCC during the George W. Bush administration, and along with fellow democrat Michael Copps often butted heads with republican FCC chairmans, including Kevin Martin and Michael Powell. Adelstein often lobbied for greater government scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions across the mobile space, including mandates designed to protect smaller operators.
“I’m thrilled to begin this new chapter in the private sector with a strong organization that has done so much to help an industry that is improving the American economy and quality of life,” said Adelstein. “It’s the ideal opportunity for me to continue my efforts to maximize wireless broadband everywhere, and to facilitate industry efforts to deploy urgently needed infrastructure to meet the exploding demand for wireless data.”
Fitch has served as president and CEO of PCIA since 2005.
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