Telecommunications universal service obligation

Public inquiry

This inquiry is complete. The Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a 12-month inquiry into the future direction of a universal service obligation (USO) in the telecommunications market.

The primary policy question addressed in this inquiry is to what extent, in the evolving Australian telecommunications market, Government policies may be required to support universal access to a minimum level of retail telecommunications services.

This involves a consideration of the nature, scope and objectives of a universal service obligation, whether the retail market for relevant services will deliver appropriate outcomes for consumers without Government intervention and, if not, what options should be considered by Government to deliver universal services and the costs and benefits of these interventions.