JOINT STATEMENT OF 
COMMISSIONERS MICHAEL J. COPPS, JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN, DEBORAH 
TAYLOR TATE AND ROBERT M. MCDOWELL
Re: High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket No. 05-337; Federal-State Joint 
Board on Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96-45; Lifeline and Link Up, WC Docket 
No. 03-109; Universal Service Contribution Methodology, WC Docket No. 06-122; 
Numbering Resource Optimization, CC Docket No. 99-200; Implementation of the Local 
Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, CC Docket No. 96-98; 
Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime, CC Docket No. 01-92; 
Intercarrier Compensation for ISP-Bound Traffic, CC Docket No. 99-68; IP-Enabled 
Services, WC Docket No. 04-36
Today’s decision responds directly to the mandamus from the D.C. Circuit Court of 
Appeals regarding Core Communications, Inc.  The item sets forth the Commission’s legal 
justification for the rules it adopted in 2001 governing intercarrier compensation for 
telecommunications traffic bound for Internet service providers.  It also preserves the ability to 
move towards a more unified intercarrier compensation regime.  
We also issue a Further Notice seeking comment on specific proposals to reform the 
intercarrier compensation and universal service systems.  While we do not pre-judge any of the 
proposals set forth therein, we do believe that there is a tentative but growing measure of 
consensus on a number of issues, including: moving intrastate access rates to interstate access 
levels over a reasonable period of time; not unduly burdening consumers with increases in their 
rates untethered to reductions in access charges; addressing phantom traffic and traffic 
stimulation; implementing an alternative cost recovery mechanism in certain circumstances; 
eliminating the identical support rule and moving over time towards support based on a 
company’s own costs; emphasizing the importance of broadband to the future of universal 
service; and clarifying the implementation of the Alaska Native regions and tribal lands exception 
to the CETC cap adopted on May 1, 2008, and the need for special consideration for such areas. 
We would appreciate stakeholders attention to these issues of concern and consideration of 
whether modifications along these lines to the attached proposals are warranted.  This Further 
Notice reflects our commitment to comprehensive reform of the intercarrier compensation and 
universal service systems in an expedited fashion.
Finally, the Commission today has completed a proceeding to consider the 
recommendations of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service.  We appreciate all of the 
valuable input that the Board has provided the Commission.  We however choose not to 
implement the Joint Board’s recommendations at this time.  We thank the Board members for 
their tireless efforts and look forward to obtaining their valuable input on an on-going basis. 
For the foregoing reasons, we are pleased to approve today’s Report & Order and Further 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.