Broadband universal service
[1] Universal service obligations are required because of the technical limitations of data transport in traditional telephone lines, particularly for connections located miles away from exchanges.
[3] Switzerland was the first country in the world to provide broadband universal service in January 2008, followed by Spain and Finland each guaranteeing 1 Mbit/s.
[5] The USA has proposed measures that would make broadband available to all citizens, but under pressure from telecommunications companies, has not implemented them.
In many countries, such as the UK, United States, and Taiwan, voice telephony services have had subsidies for rural or poor customers.
[6] Faster and more widely available broadband is considered an important opportunity to improve education, communication, and public participation in civic affairs.
U.S. President Barack Obama mentioned: "one key to strengthening education, entrepreneurship, and innovation in communities… is to harness the full power of the Internet, and that means faster and more widely available broadband."
(Obama, 2009) The government claimed widespread broadband access is critical for global competitiveness, economic development, national security, public safety, job creation, civic engagement, etc.
Therefore, Finland became the first country in the world to establish broadband universal service, albeit at a basic speed, as a general right of citizens.
In March 2020, the UK government further adopted universal service obligation legislation that gives all homes and businesses the right to request a decent and affordable broadband connection.
[13] The legislation sets out broadband service conditions for the providers KCOM in the Hull area[14] and BT for the rest of the UK.
[18] In 2012, the National Communications Commission (NCC) set up the goal to offer Internet access services with a speed of 12 Mbit/s to every village in Taiwan to shorten the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
People with low incomes, minorities, seniors, the less-educated, and the non-employed tend to have lower rates of broadband use at home.
Obama launched a policy campaign to counter nineteen state laws, which are currently preventing cities from investing in broadband Internet.
According to U.S. News, the predicted effects of broadband investment is that it will increase Internet speeds and access, and give cities a competitive advantage.
It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor."
NTIA (2010) also pointed out, "universal access to and adoption of 21st Century broadband for all citizens is a top priority for the Obama Administration.
Widespread access is critical to America’s future as the world’s economic leader because of its impact on increasing our productivity, global competitiveness, and improving Americans’ quality of life – through economic growth and development, job creation, national security, telemedicine, distance learning, public safety, civic engagement, and telework.
"[7] According to NTIA (2010), the major reason for people not having high speed Internet use at home is "don’t need/not interested" (37.8%), and the second one is "too expensive" (26.3%).
After holding thirty-six public workshops and streamed online, with more than 10,000 people and 700 parties participated, 23,000 comments were generated.
Although the map was in an early stage of development and contained errors, by entering specific addresses, users can acquire information on how connected their communities are.
[40] In February 2011, the FCC adopted an NPRM and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) to ask for comments on reforming the Universal Service Fund and the Commission’s intercarrier compensation (ICC).
Businesses and non-profit groups will work together to provide broadband access for low-income people in the United States.
By Summer 2012, homes in which children qualify for the federal school lunch program will become eligible for $9.95 broadband service.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to broadband Internet became important for work, education and other purposes when people had to shelter in place.
