CONCURRING STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MEREDITH A. BAKER
Re:  High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket No. 05-337; Federal-State Joint Board on 
Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96-45
I have long felt strongly that the Universal Service Fund is well overdue for a comprehensive 
overhaul, in light of significantly changed circumstances in the communications marketplace.  For now, 
however, we must work within the fund that we have, and we must address a remand related to the 
existing non-rural high-cost universal service support mechanism.  I support our efforts to release this 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in a timely manner to comply with the Commission’s 
commitments in the course of the Tenth Circuit appeals.  
I concur today, however, because I am concerned about whether the tentative conclusions in this 
item, if ultimately adopted, fully satisfy the concerns of the court.  We have committed to address this 
remand by April 2010, and I expect that the non-rural high-cost mechanism will be considered as part of 
comprehensive reform as well.  I hope a robust record will be developed, and I look forward to supporting 
an order in this proceeding that both resolves the court’s concerns and makes sense in light of the 
National Broadband Plan.  
I am encouraged that the item states our intent to move forward with comprehensive reform in the 
wake of the National Broadband Plan, and I look forward to working with my Commission colleagues to 
develop a thoughtful, practical, and pragmatic universal service program that is appropriately tailored for 
the future of communications.