Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service

In this document, the Commission we adopt the recommendations of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Joint Board) for phasing down the interim hold-harmless provision of the forward-looking high-cost universal service support mechanism for non-rural carriers. Specifically, the Commission adopts the Joint Board's recommendations that Long Term Support (LTS) be maintained under the current rules until the Commission considers appropriate reforms for the LTS program in connection with the pending proceedings for high-cost reform for rural carriers and/or interstate access charge reform for rate-of- return carriers and the balance of interim hold-harmless support, excluding LTS, be phased down through $1.00 reductions in average monthly, per-line support beginning January 1, 2001, and every year thereafter, except that interim hold-harmless support transferred to a rural carrier when it acquires telephone exchanges from a non-rural carrier shall not be phased down following the transfer.