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

June 30, 1997
The Commission will release by the end of June 1997 a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on forward-looking economic cost methodology for non-rural carriers; local usage; support of single and multiple connections; and competitive bidding.

July 1, 1997
Administration of the program for school, libraries, and rural health care providers begins.

August 15, 1997
States inform the Commission of their intention to submit their own cost studies or rely on the federal mechanisms for determining forward-looking economic cost for non-rural carriers.

end of 1997
The Commission releases a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, selecting forward-looking econimic cost model as platform for methodology for non-rural carriers, and seeking comments on that selection and input values.

The Commission releases Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on whether modifications to the Commission's low-income programs are necessary to account for the presubscribed interexchange carrier charge adopted in the Access Reform Order.

January 1, 1998
Contributions and distribution of universal service support for schools, libraries, and rural health care providers and modified support mechanisms for high cost companies and low income consumers will begin.

February 6, 1998
State cost studies' filing deadline.

August 31, 1998
The Commission adopts a forward-looking economic cost methodology for non-rural carriers.

October 31, 1998
The Commission releases Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on forward-looking economic cost methodology for rural carriers.

January 1, 1999
Support to non-rural carriers calculated based on forward-looking economic cost mechanism.

Rural carriers continue to recieve high cost loop support, DEM weighting, and LTS based on the existing mechanisms, with some modifications.

January 1, 2000
Inflation-adjusted nationwide loop cost implemented in high cost loop support mechanism for rural carriers.

2001
Reconvene Joint Board to re-evaluate the definition and scope of supported services.