Media Contact:
Mark Wigfield, (202) 418-0253
mark.wigfield@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI TAPS COMMISSIONER MICHAEL O’RIELLY 
TO LEAD FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIPS
WASHINGTON, February 3, 2017.—Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai today 
circulated an order appointing Commissioner Michael O’Rielly to serve as the chairman of the Federal-
State Joint Board on Universal Service, the Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations, and 
the Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Services.  
About this appointment, Chairman Pai said, “I am pleased that my friend and colleague, Mike O’Rielly, 
has agreed to lead these important Federal-State partnerships.  Mike has been a dedicated public servant 
throughout his time at the Commission, and I have been impressed with his deft understanding and 
recognition of the importance of balancing both Federal and State interests.  He has been a strong 
advocate on many of the topics on which these bodies provide input, such as reform of the contributions 
and jurisdictional separations systems.  I look forward to continuing to work with him to tackle these 
important issues in his new capacity, I and thank him for his willingness to serve.”
The Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service was established in March 1996 to make 
recommendations to implement the universal service provisions of the Communications Act. This Joint 
Board is comprised of FCC Commissioners, State Utility Commissioners, and a consumer advocate 
representative.  
The Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations was established in June 1980 to make 
recommendations with respect to any amendment of the Commission’s rules governing the jurisdictional 
separation of common carrier property and expenses between interstate and intrastate operations.  This 
Joint Board is comprised of FCC Commissioners and State Utility Commissioners.  
The Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Services was convened in 1999 as part of the 
Commission’s ongoing efforts to ensure that advanced services are deployed as rapidly as possible to all 
Americans and serves as a forum for an ongoing dialogue among the Commission, state regulators, and 
local and regional entities regarding the deployment of advanced telecommunications capabilities. The 
Joint Conference is comprised of FCC Commissioners and State Utility Commissioners.
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Office of Chairman Ajit Pai: (202) 418-2000
Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC
www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official
action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).