*************************************************** NOTICE *************************************************** This document was converted from WordPerfect to ASCII Text format. Content from the original version of the document such as headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers will not show up in this text version. All text attributes such as bold, itallic, underlining, etc. from the original document will not show up in this text version. Features of the orginal document layout such as columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins will not be preserved in the text version. If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ***************************************************** News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.govPUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 1919 M St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 FCC 98J-1 Released: February 23, 1998 FEDERAL-STATE JOINT BOARD ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE SOLICITS ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS FOR RURAL TASK FORCE CC Docket 96-45 In its Report and Order on Universal Service, released May 8, 1997, the Commission, acting on the recommendation of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (the Joint Board), encouraged the Joint Board to establish a Rural Task Force (RTF) to "provide valuable assistance in identifying the issues unique to rural carriers and analyzing the appropriateness of proxy cost models for rural carriers." On September 17, 1997, the Joint Board released a Public Notice announcing the creation of a RTF and soliciting nominations for membership. The Joint Board established seven categories representing various segments of the telecommunications industry and requested that candidates for membership be nominated according to category. Nominations were due on October 15, 1997. The Joint Board received 51 nominations. Since that time, however, several nominees have changed positions and various organizations have sought to offer substitute nominations. Accordingly, we hereby solicit additional nominations to be considered along with the nominations already received by the Joint Board. Nominations already submitted should not be resubmitted. All nominations must be submitted by March 2, 1998 to the Secretary of the Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554 and to Astrid Carlson, Federal Communications Commission, 2100 M Street, N.W., 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20554. Parties should also send copies of their nominations to the individuals listed on the attached Service List (Appendix). Questions regarding this Public Notice or the nomination process may be directed to Astrid Carlson at (202) 418-7369. Appendix -- Service List The Honorable Julia Johnson, State Chair Astrid Carlson (plus 8 copies) Chairman Federal Communications Commission Florida Public Service Commission Accounting and Audits Division 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd. Universal Service Branch Gerald Gunter Building 2100 M Street, N.W., Room 8611 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850 Washington, D.C. 20554 The Honorable David Baker Rowland Curry Commissioner Texas Public Utility Commission Georgia Public Service Commission 1701 North Congress Avenue 244 Washington Street, S.W. P.O. Box 13326 Atlanta, GA 30334-5701 Austin, TX 78701 The Honorable Laska Schoenfelder Ann Dean Commissioner Maryland Public Service Commission South Dakota Public Utilities Commission 16th Floor, 6 Paul Street State Capitol, 500 East Capitol Street Baltimore, MD 21202-6806 Pierre, SD 57501-5070 The Honorable Martha S. Hogerty Phillip F. McClelland Public Counsel PA Office of Consumer Advocate Missouri Office of Public Counsel 1425 Strawberry Square 301 West High Street, Suite 250 Harrisburg, PA 17120 P.O. Box 7800 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Charles Bolle Tiane Sommer South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Georgia Public Service Commission State Capitol, 500 East Capitol Street 244 Washington Street, S.W. Pierre, SD 57501-5070 Atlanta, GA 30334-5701 Bridget Duff, State Staff Chair Florida Public Service Commission 2450 Shumard Oak Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0866