PUBLIC NOTICE![](media/image1.png){width="0.95in"
height="0.9055555555555556in"}

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.[^1] 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.[^2] 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.[^3]

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.[^4] 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.[^5] 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,[^6]
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 \<your e-mail address\>.\" 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 12^th^ 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, 16^th^ 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

[^1]: *Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service*, CC Docket No.
    96-45, Ninth Report & Order and Eighteenth Order on Reconsideration,
    FCC 99-306 (rel., Nov. 2, 1999) (*Methodology Order*).

[^2]: *Methodology Order*, FCC 99-306 at paras. 78-88.

[^3]: *Methodology Order*, FCC 99-306 at para. 78.

[^4]: *Methodology Order*, FCC 99-306 at para. 88.

[^5]: *Methodology Order*, FCC 99-306 at para. 88. In addition, the
    Commission and the Joint Board intend to comprehensively review the
    operation of the new forward-looking mechanism no later than January
    1, 2003. *Methodology Order*, FCC 99-306 at para. 88.

[^6]: 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.415, 1.419.