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 CONCURRING  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS 
 Re:  Federal-  State  Joint  Board  on  Universal  Service,  Order  on  Reconsideration  (CC  Docket  No.  96-  45) 
 I  support  today’s  effort  to  resolve  outstanding  petitions  for  reconsideration  of  the  Commission’s  early  universal  service  decisions.  It  is  important  that  the  Commission  reduce  its 
 backlog  and  clean  out  its  regulatory  closets.  But  I  limit  my  support  to  concurring  because  many  of  these  petitions  involve  fundamental  issues  that  go  to  the  very  core  of  how  we  have  organized 
 the  contribution  and  distribution  mechanisms  for  universal  service  support.  These  petitions  predate  my  participation  in  this  process.  Many  are  also  the  subject  of  further  rulemaking 
 proceedings.  As  a  result,  I  expect  there  will  be  opportunities  in  the  future  to  rethink  the  Commission’s  earlier  approaches.  Therefore,  I  remain  open  to  taking  a  fresh  look  at  all  of  these 
 issues. 
 One  issue  mentioned  in  today’s  decision  strikes  me  as  demanding  our  attention  sooner,  rather  than  later:  insular  areas.  Since  1999,  the  Commission  has  had  open  and  outstanding  a 
 Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  on  universal  service  issues  affecting  insular  areas.  While  these  areas  may  benefit  from  our  present  universal  service  support  mechanisms,  the  Commission  has 
 acknowledged  that  it  must  address  separately  the  communications  needs  of  remote  and  insular  communities.  Indeed,  Congress  specifically  directed  the  Commission  to  ensure  that  “[  c]  onsumers 
 in  all  regions  of  the  Nation,  including  low-  income  consumers  and  those  in  rural,  insular,  and  high  cost  areas”  have  access  to  reasonably  comparable  services  at  reasonably  comparable  rates  (italics 
 added).  But  the  Commission  has  failed  over  time  to  give  this  phrase  full  meaning.  We  are  long  past  due  to  address  this  aspect  of  the  statute  and  incorporate  this  concept  in  our  universal  service 
 support  system.  As  we  move  forward  and  consider  other  universal  service  reforms,  I  hope  that  the  Commission  takes  this  statutory  language  into  consideration. 
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