[1] In the Matter of Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96-45, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, released March 8, 1996.

    [2] Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-104, [[section]]254.

    [3] See "Competition and the Maintenance of Universal Service" by Richard D. Emmerson, Ph.D., a copy of which was attached as Appendix A to CBT's original comments in this proceeding.

    [4] See, In the Matter of the Commission's Investigation Relative to the Establishment of Local Exchange Competition and Other Competitive Issues, PUCO Case No. 95-845-TP-COI. See also, Kentucky Admin. Case No. 355. In its April 8, 1996 comments filed in this proceeding, the Kentucky Public Service Commission indicates that it will be entering an order during the summer of 1996 addressing issues relating to local competition including the preservation of universal service.

    [5] See CBT Comments, CC Docket No. 80-286 (filed October 9, 1995), p. 1.

    [6] NPRM at [[paragraph]] 50.

    [7] NPRM at [[paragraph]] 50.

    [8] In Ohio, these services are the Telephone Service Assistance ("TSA") and the Service Connection Assistance ("SCA") programs. In Kentucky, the program is entitled Link-Up Kentucky. The operations of these programs were fully described in the September 27, 1995 Comments submitted by CBT in this Commission's subscribership docket. See CBT Comments, In the Matter of: Amendment of the Commission's Rules and Policies to Increase Subscribership and Usage of the Public Switched Network. CC Docket No. 95-115. pp. 5 - 8.

    [9] As part of CBT's alternative regulation plan in Ohio, CBT has agreed to develop and implement a plan to promote telecommunications-based educational applications. These applications include distance learning within the Clermont County Ohio school system, as well as developing long-range telecommunications plans that consider the telecommunications needs of the state-chartered public and private primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools within the CBT operating territory. CBT has also agreed to work with the Cincinnati Public Schools to determine the technology needs of the school system and to address the unique and specific needs of the school system. These needs will potentially include, but not be limited to ISDN, the application of Centrex, data networking and distance learning applications.