1996 Telecom Act

Other Major Provisions

• Creates a Federal/State Joint Board to recommend universal service solutions to the FCC (254(a))

  • Recommendation due November 8, 1996
  • FCC to act on recommendations by May 8, 1997

• Defines Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETC) for receipt of universal service funds (214(e))

• Differentiates between Rural LECs and Non-Rural LECs

  • Based on size (I.e. < 100,000 lines) and area served (3(37))
  • Different market opening requirements (251(f))
  • NRLECS shall have multiple ETCs (214(e)(2))

• States that any Federal universal service support should be explicit” (254(e))

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