Federal-State Joint
Board on Universal Service
On February 8, 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Telecommunication
Act of 1996. This Act expanded the scope of the existing Universal Service
provisions. The Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service was established
in March 1996, to make recommendations to implement the universal service
provisions of the Act. This Joint Board is comprised of FCC Commissioners,
State Utility Commissioners, and a consumer advocate representative.
Joint Board and Its Members
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Universal Service Federal-State Joint Board List [Acrobat]
5/20/2008
Order: In this order, the Wireline Competition
Bureau (WCB) waives on its own motion sections 54.702(b)(1) and 54.703(c)
of the Commission’s rules that specify that one member of the Universal
Service Administrative Company (USAC) Board of Director’s shall be nominated
by and shall represent “interexchange carriers with more than $3 billion
in annual operating revenues.” WCB finds good cause exists to waive these
rules to enable the Commission to designate a member USAC Board of Directors
for the seat from an interexchange carrier, regardless of its annual operating
revenues. Word | Acrobat
11/20/07
Recommended Decision: In this Recommended
Decision, the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service recommends
that the Federal Communications Commission address the long-term reform
issues facing the high-cost universal service support system and make fundamental
revisions in the structure of existing Universal Service mechanisms. Word | Acrobat
FCC Chairman Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
FCC Commissioner Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
FCC Commissioner Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
Commissioner Ray Baum Statement: Word | Acrobat
Chairman Lisa Polak Edgar Statement: Word | Acrobat
Commissioner Larry S. Landis Statement: Word | Acrobat
Commissioner John D. Burke Statement: Word | Acrobat
Assistant Attorney General Public Counsel Simon ffitch Statement: Word | Acrobat
9/28/07
Order: Pursuant to sections 254(a)(1)
and 410 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the Federal Communications
Commission (Commission) appoints Simon ffitch, Assistant Attorney General,
Chief, Public Counsel Section, Attorney General of Washington, to serve
on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, effective October
1, 2007. Word | Acrobat
9/6/07
Public Notice: The Universal Service
Joint Board continues to work on the issue of fundamental reform. This
document reflects a tentative agreement among the board members on the
principles that may guide their deliberations. Word | Acrobat
6/12/07
Order: The Commission released an order
granting an extension of time for parties to file reply comments in response
to the May 14, 2007 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which sought comment
on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service’s recommendation
that the Commission adopt an interim, emergency cap on high-cost universal
service support for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers.
The reply comment date is changed from June 13, 2007, to June 21, 2007. Word | Acrobat
Reply Comments: Reply
Comments filed 06/21/07.
5/14/07
Public Notice: The Commission released
a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking comment on the Federal-State
Joint Board on Unviersal Service's recommendation that the Commission
adopt an interim, emergency cap on high-cost universal service support
for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers. The Commission
set the comment and reply comment deadlines as 14 and 21 days, respectively,
after publication of the Notice in the Federal Register. On May 23, 2007,
a summary of the Notice appeared in the Federal Register. Comment Date:
June 6, 2007. Reply Comment Date: June 13, 2007. Word | Acrobat
Comments: Comments filed
06/06/07.
5/14/07
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking : The
Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking comment
on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service's recommendation
that the Commission adopt an interim, emergency cap on high-cost universal
service support for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers.
The Commission set the comment and reply comment deadlines as 14 and
21 days, respectively, after publication of the Notice in the Federal
Register. Word | Acrobat
Comments: filed 06/06/07.
5/1/07
News Release: 5/1/07, The Federal-State
Joint Board on Universal Service recommended that the Federal Communications
Commission take immediate action to rein in explosive growth in high-cost
universal service support disbursements. The Joint Board is also seeking
comment on proposals for long-term, comprehensive reform of the high-cost
program. Word | Acrobat
5/1/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Joint Board) seeks
comment on various proposals to reform the high-cost universal service
support mechanisms. In a companion Recommended Decision released today,
the Joint Board recommends that the Commission take immediate action
to rein in the explosive growth in high-cost universal service support
disbursements by imposing an interim, emergency cap on the amount of
high-cost support that competitive eligible telecommunications carriers
(ETCs) may receive. The Joint Board is committed to making further recommendations
regarding long term, comprehensive high-cost universal service reform
within six months. To assist the Joint Board in accomplishing this goal,
we seek comment on several proposals that have been placed in the record
since the close of the last comment cycle, as well as other possible
reforms. The Joint Board expects parties to put forth detailed, comprehensive
proposals within this comment cycle. Comments are due May 31, 2007 and
reply comments are due July 2, 2007. Word
Comments: Comments filed
05/31/07.
5/1/07
Recommended Decision: In this Recommended
Decision, the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Joint Board)
recommends that the Commission take immediate action to rein in the explosive
growth in high-cost universal service support disbursements. Specifically,
we recommend that the Commission impose an interim, emergency cap on
the amount of high-cost support that competitive eligible telecommunications
carriers (ETCs) may receive for each state based on the average level
of competitive ETC support distributed in that state in 2006. We also
recommend that the Joint Board and the Commission further explore comprehensive
high-cost distribution reform. As part of that effort, today in a companion
Public Notice we seek comment on various proposals to reform the high-cost
universal service support mechanisms. We also commit to making further
recommendations regarding comprehensive high-cost universal service reform
within six months of this Recommended Decision. Finally, we recommend
that the Commission act on these further recommendations within one year
from the date of our further recommended decision. Word | Acrobat
2/20/07
En Banc Hearing of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service
Audio Recording
Panel 2 - Audio
- David Bodenhamer, The Polis Center, Indiana University Purdue University
Indianapolis - Slides
- Jim Stegeman, CostQuest Associates - Slides
- Brian Staihr, Embarq - Slides
2/9/07
Public Notice: The Federal-State Joint
Board on Universal (Joint Board) will hold an en banc hearing on Tuesday,
February 20, 2007, in Washington, DC. Word | Acrobat
08/11/06
Public Notice: Federal-State Joint
Board on Universal Service seeks comment on the merits of using auctions
to determine high-cost Universal Service support. Word | Acrobat
Comments: Comments filed
10/10/06.
Reply Comments: Reply
Comments filed 11/08/06.
1/24/2006
Order:In this order the Commission
appoints the Honorable Curt Stamp, Iowa Utilities Board, to serve on
the Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations.
Word | Acrobat
11/9/05
Order:This order appointed the Honorable
Lisa Polak Edgar and the Honorable Larry S. Landis to serve on the Federal-State
Joint Board on Universal Service.
Word | Acrobat
9/13/05
Order:The Federal-State Joint Board
on Universal Service Extends Deadlines for Filing Comments and Reply
Comments on Universal Service (Joint Board) Proposals to modify the Commission's
rules relating to high-cost universal service support.
Word | Acrobat
8/17/05
Order:The Federal-State Joint Board
on Universal Service seeks comment on Proposals to modify the Commission's
rules relating to high-cost Universal Service.
Word | Acrobat
12/30/04
Order:The Commission approves the
nomination of two state commissioners, Elliott Smith and Ray Baum, to
the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service.
Word | Acrobat
11/17/04
En Banc Hearing of the Federal-State Joint
Board on Universal Service:
Transcripts | Biographies | Statements
9/08/04
Order: DA 04-2895, CC Dkt. 96-45.
The Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Nominations for Six Board Member
Positions on Universal Service Administrative Company Board of Directors.
Word | Acrobat
6/30/04
Order: FCC 04-152, CC Dkt. 96-45.
The Federal Communications Commission appoints the Honorable Robert Nelson,
Commissioner of the Michigan Public Service Commisssion, to serve on
the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service.
Word | Acrobat
6/8/04
NPRM: FCC 04-127, CC Dkt. 96-45.
In this Notice, we seek comment on the Recommended Decision of the Federal-State
Joint Board on Universal Service concerning the process for designation
of eligible telecommunicatons carriers (ETCs) and the Commission's rules
regarding high-cost universal service support.
Word | Acrobat
2/27/04
Federal State Joint Board ("Joint Board")
on Universal Service: Joint Board provides its recommendations
concerning the process for designation of eligible telecommunications
carriers and the Commission's rules regarding high-cost universal service
support.
Recommended Decision: Word | Acrobat
Abernathy Statement: Word | Acrobat
Jaber (Florida PSC) Statement: Word | Acrobat
Dunleavy (NY State PSC) Statement: Word | Acrobat
Gregg (West Virginia PSC) Statement: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Joint Separate Statement of Adelstein, Thompson (Regulatory Commission
of Alaska), and Rowe (Montana PSC): Word | Acrobat
2/26/04
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau released a draft of the revised Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet
(FCC Form 499-A) for 2003 revenues. Word | Acrobat
Appendix
A in Acrobat
Instructions
in Acrobat
7/31/03
En Banc Hearing: CC Dkt. 96-45. The
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service held En Banc hearing on
the Portability of the High-Cost Universal Service Support and the ETC
designation process.
Panelist |Joint
Board
7/11/03
Public Notice: DA 03-2294, CC Dkt.
96-45. The Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service to hold En
Banc hearing on the Portability of the High-Cost Universal Service Support
and the ETC designation process.
Word | Acrobat
4/2/03
Order: FCC 03J-2, CC Dkt. 96-45.
The Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service released a Recommended
Decision proposing modifications to the Lifeline/Link-Up program.
Word | Acrobat
2/13/03
Order: FCC 03-29, CC Dkt. 96-45.
The Commission appoints the Honorable Jonathan S. Adelstein, to serve
on a the Joint Board on Universal Service.
Word | Acrobat | Text
7/10/02
Recommended Decision: FCC 02J-1,
CC Dkt. 96-45. Joint Board issued its recommendation regarding the definition
of services that should be supported by federal universal service.
Word | Acrobat | Text
6/21/02
Contribution Methodology Meeting:
CC Dkt. 96-45. Transcript of Commission Public Meeting on Universal Service
Contribution Methodology.
Part
1 | Part
2 | Part
3 | Part
4 | Part
5 | Part
6
3/28/02
Order: FCC 02-97, CC Docket No. 96-45.
The Commission appointed the Honorable Billy Jack Gregg, West Virginia
Consumer Advocate, to serve on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal
Service.
Word | Acrobat | Text
2/15/02
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order:
FCC 02-41, CC Docket No. 96-45. Commission released a Notice seeking
comment on issues from the Ninth Report and Order remanded by the US
Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The Commission referred the record
collected to the Joint Board for a recommended decision by August 15,
2002.
Word | Acrobat | Text
10/11/01
Public Notice: FCC 01-J-2, CC Docket
No. 96-45. Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service Seeks Comment
on Review of Lifeline and Link-Up Service For All Low-Income Consumers.
Word | Acrobat | Text
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