Public Notice da97-1561

PUBLIC NOTICE

Federal Communications Commission
1919 M St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554

DA 97-1561
Released August 1, 1997

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPANY, SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES CORPORATION, AND RURAL
HEALTH CARE CORPORATION BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

CC DOCKET NOS. 96-45, 97-21

Pursuant to the Report and Order and Second Order on Reconsideration released by the Commission on July 18, 1997 in Changes to the Board of Directors of the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc., and Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket Nos. 97-21 and 96-45, the Commission directed the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. (NECA) to establish the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the Schools and Libraries Corporation, and the Rural Health Care Corporation to perform specified functions relating to administering the universal service support mechanisms. Members of the industry and non-industry groups that will be represented on the Boards of Directors of USAC, the Schools and Libraries Corporation, and Rural Health Care Corporation are asked to submit nominations for the USAC, Schools and Libraries Corporation, and Rural Health Care Corporation Boards by August 15, 1997. The Chairman of the Commission will review the nominations submitted by industry and non-industry groups and select the members of the USAC, Schools and Libraries Corporation, and Rural Health Care Corporation Boards.

Only members of the industry or non-industry group may nominate a candidate for each seat on the Board allotted to represent that group (e.g., only CMRS providers may submit nominations for the CMRS position, and only IXCs with more than $3 billion in annual operating revenues may submit nominations for the IXC Board member who will represent IXCs of that size). Each nomination should be accompanied by the nominee's professional and biographical information, such as a resume or professional biography.

In order to minimize controversy surrounding the selection and appointment of Board members and to expedite the appointment process, members of the industry and non-industry groups represented on the USAC, Schools and Libraries Corporation, and Rural Health Care Corporation Boards are encouraged to nominate for each Board seat, a candidate who possesses substantial experience in, and knowledge of, telecommunications issues. If a group fails to reach consensus on a candidate or candidates to serve on the USAC Board or to serve as one of the rural health care representatives on the Rural Health Care Corporation Board, or fails to submit a nomination for a Board seat, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission will select an individual from that industry or non-industry group to serve on the Board or Boards.

The July 18th Order states that the USAC Board of Directors shall consist of 17 members. For purposes of selecting the members of the USAC Board of Directors, we seek nominations of:

three directors to represent incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) (with one director representing the Bell Operating Companies and GTE, one director representing other ILECs with annual operating revenues in excess of $40 million, and one director representing small ILECs with annual operating revenues of $40 million or less);
two directors to represent interexchange carriers (IXCs) (with one director representing IXCs with more than $3 billion in annual operating revenues, and one director representing IXCs with annual operating revenues of $3 billion or less);
one director to represent commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers, which include cellular, Personal Communications Services, paging, and Specialized Mobile Radio companies;
one director to represent competitive local exchange carriers;
one director to represent cable operators;
one director to represent information service providers;
three directors to represent schools;
one director to represent libraries;
one director to represent rural health care providers;
one director to represent low-income consumers;
one director to represent state consumer advocates; and
one director to represent state telecommunications regulators.

From those nominated, USAC directors will be selected to represent the categories of interest listed above and will serve on the USAC Board. The schools and libraries representatives selected to serve on the USAC Board also will serve on the Board of the Schools and Libraries Corporation. The rural health care provider representative selected to serve on the USAC Board also will serve on the Board of the Rural Health Care Corporation.¹ Parties that will be represented by the rural health care provider representative on the USAC Board are asked to submit their nomination for an additional rural health care representative who will serve only on the Rural Health Care Corporation Board.

For a further discussion of the Boards of Directors of USAC, the Schools and Libraries Corporation, and the Rural Health Care Corporation, including the Board member selection and appointment process, see Changes to the Board of Directors of the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc., Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket Nos. 96-45 and 97-21, Report and Order and Second Order on Reconsideration, FCC 97-253 (rel. July 18, 1997).

All nominations must be submitted by August 15, 1997 to both the Chairman and the Secretary of the Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. For further information, contact: Lori Wright, Federal Communications Commission, 2100 M Street, N.W., 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20554; 202/418-7391.

Remember -- You are not required to respond to a collection of information sponsored by the Federal government, and the government may not conduct or sponsor this collection, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This collection has been assigned an OMB control number of 3060-0784.

¹ Once the USAC Board is convened, the USAC Board members will select a telecommunications service provider representative from among the service provider representatives on the USAC Board who will serve on the Schools and Libraries Corporation Board of Directors. The USAC Board will select the same or another telecommunications service provider representative who will serve on the Rural Health Care Corporation Board.