BEFORE THE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554


FCC 96-93

In the Matter of		)
				)
Federal-State Joint Board on	)	CC Docket No. 96-45
Universal Service		)
				)

COMMENTS OF KENTUCKY PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
REGARDING NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING AND
ORDER ESTABLISHING JOINT BOARD

Submitted By:

______________________
Amy E. Dougherty
Attorney
Kentucky Public Service Commission
P. O. Box 615
Frankfort, Kentucky 40602
(502) 564-3940

BEFORE THE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554

FCC 96-93

In the Matter of		)
				)
Federal-State Joint Board on	)	CC Docket No. 96-45
Universal Service		)
				)

COMMENTS OF KENTUCKY PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
REGARDING NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING AND
ORDER ESTABLISHING JOINT BOARD

Comes now the Kentucky Public Service Commission ("Kentucky Commission") and for its comments regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order Establishing Joint Board states as follows:

On April 21, 1995, the Kentucky Public Service Commission initiated a proceeding to investigate unbundling network services, number portability, local dialing parity, interconnection fees, local service resale, cost based access to poles, conduits, and rights-of-way, switched local access competition, its effect on universal service, and the potential need for changing non-traffic sensitive access charges.[1] The Kentucky Commission noted that the preservation and expansion of universal service, as well as the need to examine its definition, are inextricably connected with the issues of local competition and would be investigated simultaneously.

After months of discovery, the Kentucky Commission conducted a public hearing from March 25, 1996 through March 29, 1996. Many of the issues discussed at the public hearing were framed by this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The major telecommunications carriers that serve Kentucky participated in the hearing. Testimony was presented by interexchange carriers, local exchange carriers, competitive access providers, cable television providers and, on behalf of consumer interests, the Kentucky Attorney General.

The transcript of the public hearing has not yet been finalized. The Kentucky Commission anticipates entering an order during the summer of 1996 addressing issues relating to local competition including the preservation of universal service. The Kentucky Commission will establish perameters for affordable rates, support of rural, insular and high cost areas, support of low income consumers, advanced services of schools, libraries and health care providers, and reasonably comparable rates.

The Kentucky Commission is unable to provide further comment at this time due to our own administrative case, but we wish to be made a party to this inquiry. When the order is concluded, the Kentucky Commission will forward a copy to the FCC. The Kentucky Commission looks forward to participating to the fullest extent possible in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and considers universal service a critical issue for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing COMMENTS has been served by first-class mail, postage prepaid, on the attached service list this 4th day of April, 1996.

_______________________

AMY E. DOUGHERTY