February 8, 1996
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted.

March 8, 1996
The Common Carrier Bureau released Notice of Proposed Rulemaking establishing Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (NPRM).

April 12, 1996
Federal-State Joint Board held first Open Meeting on Universal Service issues.

June 5, 1996
Federal-State Joint Board held Open Meeting on cost of support for rural, insular, and high cost areas, and low-income consumers, and alternatives for recovering costs and providing universal service support.

June 19, 1996
Federal-State Joint Board held Open Meeting on the types of functionalities schools, libraries, and rural health care providers require of telecommunications services and the cost of providing services to deliver those functionalities.

July 3, 1996
The Common Carrier Bureau released Public Notice seeking further comment on 72 specific questions in March 8, 1996, Universal Service Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Further Comment Public Notice).

July 10, 1996
The Common Carrier Bureau released Public Notice seeking further comment on cost models (Cost Model Public Notice).

September 13, 1996
The Federal-State Joint Board held Open Meeting on insular areas and Alaska, and recovery of interstate loop costs.

October 17, 1996
The Federal-State Joint Board held Open Meeting on implementation of universal service support mechanisms for schools, libraries and health care providers.

November 7, 1996
The Federal-State Joint Board held Open Meeting on Universal Service Recommended Decision.

November 8, 1996
The Federal-State Joint Board released Recommended Decision on Universal Service.

November 18, 1996
The Common Carrier Bureau released Public Notice that requested comments on the Recommended Decision (Recommended Decision Public Notice).

December 12, 1996
The Common Carrier Bureau released a Public Notice setting the time and place for cost model workshops and setting procedures for interested parties to submit models to be discussed at workshops.

January 9, 1997
The Common Carrier Bureau released a Public Notice setting agenda and participants for the cost model workshops.

The Common Carrier Bureau released a staff analysis on cost models and a Public Notice requesting comments on that staff analysis.

January 14-15, 1997
Staff workshops on cost models.

January 15, 1997
The Common Carrier Bureau released Public Notice requesting comments on the discussion in the cost model workshops.

February 3, 1997
The Common Carrier Bureau released Public Notice concerning frequently asked questions on Universal Service and the Snowe-Rockefeller Amendment.

May 7, 1997
The Commission adopts the First Report and Order on Universal Service.