********************* ********************* ************** NOTICE ********************* ********************* ************** This document was converted from WordPerfect or Word 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, italic, underlining, etc. from the original document will not show up in this text version. Features of the original 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. ********************* ********************* ********************* ** PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 12th STREET, S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 FCC 99J-2 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Released: November 3, 1999 FEDERAL-STATE JOINT BOARD ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE SEEKS COMMENT ON THE INTERIM HOLD-HARMLESS PROVISION OF THE COMMISSION'S HIGH-COST SUPPORT MECHANISM CC Docket No. 96-45 On October 21, 1999, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted an order establishing a new forward-looking high-cost support mechanism for non-rural carriers. Among other things, the new mechanism contains an interim hold-harmless provision, which ensures that the amount of support provided to a non-rural carrier on a per-line basis under the new mechanism will be no less than it receives under the existing high-cost support mechanism. Specifically, to the extent that a non-rural carrier does not qualify for forward-looking support under the new mechanism, or qualifies for forward-looking support in an amount less than it would receive under the existing mechanism, the carrier shall receive interim hold-harmless support based on the existing mechanism. The Commission emphasized that the interim hold-harmless provision is a transitional measure that is intended to protect consumers in high-cost areas from potential rate shock during the shift to the new forward-looking mechanism. In this regard, the Commission requested that the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Joint Board) provide it with a recommendation on or before July 1, 2000 concerning how the interim hold-harmless provision can be phased out or eliminated without causing undue disruption to consumer rates in high-cost areas. Accordingly, in this Public Notice, the Joint Board seeks comment on schedules and procedures for phasing out or eliminating the interim hold-harmless provision of the Commission's new forward-looking high-cost support mechanism for non-rural carriers. Procedure for Filing Comments Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, interested parties may file comments on or before December 1, 1999, and reply comments on or before December 15, 1999. All filings should reference Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96-45, Comments on the Interim Hold-Harmless Provision, and should include the FCC number shown on this Public Notice. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24,121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html. Only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit electronic comments by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, "get form ." A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. All filings must be sent to the Commission's Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, S.W., TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554. Parties should also send paper copies of their filings to the individuals listed in the attached Service List. SERVICE LIST Martha Hogerty Public Counsel Missouri Office of Public Counsel 301 West High St., Suite 250 Truman Building P.O. Box 7800 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Laska Schoenfelder Commissioner South Dakota Public Utilities Commission State Capitol, 500 East Capitol Street Pierre, SD 57501-5070 Patrick H. Wood, III Chairman Texas Public Utility Commission 1701 North Congress Avenue P.O. Box 13326 Austin, TX 78711-3326 Sheryl Todd Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Room 5-B540 Washington, DC 20554 Peter Bluhm Director of Policy Research Vermont Public Service Board Drawer 20 112 State St., 4th Floor Montpieller, VT 05620-2701 Charlie Bolle Policy Advisor Nevada Public Utilities Commission 1150 E. Williams Street Carson City, NV 89701-3105 Rowland Curry Policy Consultant Texas Public Utility Commission 1701 North Congress Avenue P.O. Box 13326 Austin, TX 78701 Ann Dean Assistant Director Maryland Public Service Commission 6 Paul Street, 16th Floor Baltimore, MD 21202-6806 Carl Johnson Telecom Policy Analyst New York Public Service Commission 3 Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223-1350 Lori Kenyon Common Carrier Specialist Alaska Public Utilities Commission 1016 West 6th Ave, Suite 400 Anchorage, AK 99501 David Dowds Florida Public Service Commission 2540 Shumard Oaks Blvd. Gerald Gunter Bldg. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850 Greg Fogleman Florida Public Service Commission 2540 Shumard Oaks Blvd. Gerald Gunter Bldg. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850 Doris McCarter Economist Ohio Public Utilities Commission Telecommunications, 3rd Floor 180 East Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215 Philip McClelland Assistant Consumer Advocate PA Office of Consumer Advocate 555 Walnut Street Forum Place, 5th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101-1923 Susan Stevens Miller Assistant General Counsel Maryland Public Service Commission 16th Floor, 6 Paul Street Baltimore. MD 21202-6806 Mary E. Newmeyer Federal Affairs Advisor Alabama Public Service Commission 100 N. Union Street, Ste. 800 Montgomery, AL 36104 Tom Wilson Economist Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission 1300 Evergreen Park Drive, S.W. P.O. Box 47250 Olympia, WA 98504-7250