1876
Alexander Graham Bell granted first telephone patent; the era of the Bell Telephone Company begins
Milestones in JSI’s and the Industry’s History
1913
AT&T agrees to allow independent telcos to connect with its network
1934
Congress passes the Communications Act; creates the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the public telephone network
1962
John Staurulakis departs USITA to form JSI; sets out to secure a stronger bargaining position for independent companies in the settlements process
1968
FCC issues Carterfone decision; allows non-Bell equipment to be attached to the telephone network
1974
MCI files monopoly charges against AT&T; Justice Department begins anti-trust action; JSI designs separations program, reducing time needed to process jurisdictional revenue requirements from 8 hours to 30 minutes
1978
JSI opens its first regional office in Dallas to better serve clients in Texas. That office moves to Austin in 1988 to be closer to the Texas PUC
1982
Government and AT&T reach agreement in anti-trust case; ends Bell monopoly and sets in motion the restructuring of the Bell System; JSI opens its second regional office in Minnesota to serve clients throughout the Mid-West
1992
As the independent industry evolves, JSI creates Financial Services Division to provide specialized business and financial intermediation, valuation, and syndication services
1997
With new ventures on the rise, JSI establishes Competitive Services Division to evaluate and implement emerging CLEC opportunities and to position LEC clients vis a vis emerging competitors
1999
NTCA selects John Staurulakis as the first recipient of the association’s Associate Member Outstanding Achievement Award at Fall Conference in Chicago
2001
FCC and industry go back and forth on MAG Plan negotiations for significant revisions in long-distance services and access-chargeregime; stage set for separations reform, federal SLCs, and state USF programs; with the introduction of number porting requirements, JSI becomes first industry consultant to offer porting services to clients
2002
New Year dawns on MAG Order SLCs of $5.00 residential, $9.20 multiline business; FCC rules cable modem Internet access an information service
2006
JSI calls the industry’s attention to the inconsistencies in the FCC’s DEM weighting rules; in 2010, after extended proceedings, the FCC recognizes the inequities and issues new DEM weighting rules; JSI begins meetings with industry groups on prospects of IPTV business case for rural video offering
2009
President Obama signs ARRA into law, targeting $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus grants and loans; JSI launches MyJSI, its clients-only website to offer additional informational resources and to house online service applications in Network Services (SOA port ordering and NNCAR subscriptions) and tariff posting; OPASTCO presents its Associate Member Distinguished Service Award to JSI’s Senior Vice President Steve Meltzer
2011
FCC issues momentous USF/ICC Reform NPRM, says federal support system is broken; advocacy activities intensify, as JSI and rural associations promote vigorous ex parte strategies/meetings with clients, and begin series of newsletters, webinars, and e-lerts to make community based providers absorb the full meaning and significance of the FCC’s reform; NTCA recognizes Communications and Education Director Chris Lehner with Associate Member Outstanding Achievement Award
Nov. 18, FCC releases USF/ICC Reform Report and Order; begins the transition to a new national universal service goal and the rush to the Broadband Age
1900
American Telephone & Telegraph established as parent of the Bell System to establish long-distance service across the nation
1950
Rural Electrification Administration (REA) begins making low-interest loans to rural telephone cooperatives and companies
1957
Defense Department forms Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA); initiates computer project from which springs the Internet
1963
John Staurulakis assists independent telco leaders in establishing national association, OPASTCO; JSI pioneers the use of cost separations as the basis for settlements; negotiates first separations (cost) studies ever conducted in a number of states,including Alabama, Georgia, Maine, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia
1969
MCI installs and operates interstate microwave link between Chicago and St. Louis
1976
JSI’s longest tenured employee, Eleanor Rouse, begins her career at the company. Today she is a manager in our CPR department
1979
JSI launches a newsletter for clients, which later becomes News & Commentary to offer clients review and analysis of regulatory, policy, and other industry developments
1984
Modified Final Judgment leads to AT&T divestiture, the birth of the RBOCs, competition in long-distance service, and access charges; JSI designs software programs for new FCC rules on separations and access (Parts 67 and 69); JSI publishes first comprehensive accounting manual to address the FCC’s new Part 32 rules; completes programming to incorporate separations and access rules (Parts 36 and 69)
1996
President Clinton signs the Telecommunications Act into law, bringing the curtain down on monopoly structure and launching the era of local competition and CLECs; News & Commentary completes 10-issue series on Telecom Act’s impact on rural LECs with explanation of Joint Board’s recommendation on ETC status; JSI opens an office in Atlanta to serve clients in the Southeast
1998
Industry consolidation accelerates; JSI joins with industry veteran Marnell Robertson to form Creative Support Solutions to help clients address increasingly chaotic CABS process
2000
Y2K comes and goes with little effect; Manny Staurulakis succeeds his father as JSI president; John Staurulakis continues as chairman, and Leo Staurulakis becomes executive vice president;
to make clients’ news and updates even more timely, JSI initiates broadcast e-mail and e-Lert service; JSI splits off Financial Services to form JSI Capital Advisors, based in Manchester, NH, to advise and assist clients on mergers and acquisitions and provide counsel on other capital issues
2005
JSI staff partners with NTCA’s Foundation for Rural Service to develop One Nation Indivisible: The Case for Universal Service and Rural Connection in the Broadband Age, the initial white paper in the FRS Rural Telecom Educational Series; in 2011, JSI staff collaborates with Monte R. Lee & Co. on the most recent FRS release, The Truth about Wireless Broadband:The Myths and Challenges of Wireless Technology in Rural America
2007
FCC launches long-term reform campaign to address USF, ICC, and phantom traffic issues; JSI joins with industry’s Missoula Plan effort to devise solutions for rural, rate-of-return LECs
2010
FCC proposes paradigm shift in regulatory policy with controversial National Broadband Plan, beginning the transition from PSTN to the IP age; JSI joins with rural LEC associations on aggressive advocacy campaign to promote the continued viability of universal service and Internet connections in rural America; FCC Chairman Genachowski tees up “net neutrality” as part of FCC’s bailiwick in broadband development; in response to new demands and requirements, JSI introduces Video Compliance Review services
2012
JSI celebrates 50th Anniversary
