Who are you going to call? The future of the Universal Service Obligation

Abstract

This paper draws upon a research paper prepared for the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network. The focus of this paper is on the best way to provide every adult with universally available, accessible, affordable and empowering communications. Special attention is given affordability leading to a litmus test of an affordable broadband tariff. The paper proposes two options for delivering universal service objectives in future. One does not require any carrier to be nominated as the universal retail service provider. The other extends Telstra’s current obligations.