NEWSReport No. 96-11       COMMON CARRIER ACTION             April 12, 1996

              COMMISSIONER RACHELLE B. CHONG APPOINTED TO 
                    JOINT BOARD ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE;
                     FIRST MEETING TO BE HELD APRIL 12
                           (CC Docket No. 96-45)

     The Commission has appointed Commissioner Rachelle B. Chong to serve on the Federal-
State Joint Board required to implement the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  Commissioner
Chong will fill the position vacated by the departure of FCC Commissioner Andrew C. Barrett.

     The Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service will make recommendations to the
FCC with respect to the implementation of the universal service provisions of the 1996 Act. The
first meeting of the Joint Board will be held today, beginning at 8:30am, at the Commission's
offices in Washington, D.C.  The meeting will include panel discussions held to address issues
raised in the universal service proceeding.  The panels will discuss competition and universal
service, and universal service for consumers in rural, insular, and high cost areas and for low
income consumers, as well as the provision of advanced telecommunications services to schools,
classrooms, libraries and health care providers.  The Joint Board meeting and panel discussions
are open to the public.

     On March 8, 1996, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
and Order establishing the Federal-State Joint Board.  The NPRM seeks comments generally on
implementation of the 1996 Act's principles and goals for universal service. Comments are due
by April 12, 1996, reply comments by May 7, 1996.  The NPRM may be purchased from the
Commission's duplicating contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., or through other
recognized distribution services. The NPRM is also available on the Commission's Internet site
at "www.fcc.gov".

                                  - FCC -

     Common Carrier Bureau contact: Mindy Ginsburg at (202) 418-1500.