WASHINGTON - US PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama has selected Julius Genachowski, a technology executive and former classmate from Harvard Law School, to lead the Federal Communications Commission, a Democratic source said on Monday.

Mr Genachowski served as chief counsel for former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, the chairman under former President Bill Clinton, and held various positions at IAC/InterActiveCorp , as well as other technology posts.

Mr Genachowski, who has been advising Mr Obama, had been considered the front-runner for the job.

The FCC oversees US telecommunications regulation and policy. Its reach includes regulation of telephone and cable companies; oversight of concentration of ownership of radio, television outlets, and auctioning public airwaves.

The FCC's biggest immediate challenge is ensuring a congressionally mandated conversion to digital television on Feb 17 goes smoothly, a switch affecting some 20 million consumers who don't already use the technology.

Owners of older television sets receiving over-the-air signals must buy a converter box, replace their TV with a digital TV, or subscribe to satellite or digital cable service. -- REUTERS