# Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service
> **Federal Communications Commission** · Final rule. · Published 1999-12-01 · Effective 1999-12-01 · 64 FR 67416
## Document
- **Document number:** 99-30876
- **Category:** universal-service
- **Federal Register citation:** 64 FR 67416
- **CFR reference:** 47 CFR 36
- **Publication date:** 1999-12-01
- **Effective date:** 1999-12-01
- **FCC docket:** CC Docket No. 96-45
## Abstract

This document concerning the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service adopts a new specific and predictable forward-looking mechanism that will provide sufficient support to enable affordable, reasonably comparable intrastate rates for customers served by non- rural carriers. This document also addresses specific methodological issues relating to the calculation of forward-looking support, including the area over which costs should be averaged; the level of the national benchmark; the amount of support to be provided for costs above the national benchmark; the elimination of the state share requirement; and the targeting of the statewide support amount. It also modifies the rules governing our existing support mechanism to ensure that support for rural carriers is not substantially changed when non-rural carriers are removed from that mechanism and transitioned to the new forward-looking support mechanism.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1999/12/01/99-30876/federal-state-joint-board-on-universal-service)
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