This page has general references about universal service for communications in developing countries and the European Union. The web sites of several regulators are also useful.
Developing countries
Guidelines
Universal Service Obligations: an on-line course by OFTA for the ITU Asia-Pacific Centre of Excellence
Universal Service, Module 6 of Telecommunications Regulation Handbook (World Bank, 2000)
Leveraging telecommunications policies for pro-poor growth: universal access funds with minimum-subsidy auctions (OECD, 2004)
Bonnes pratiques sur le service et l'accès universels (Fratel, 2004)
Experience
Publications (Infodev): links to reports, including Village Phone Replication Manual: Creating sustainable access to affordable telecommunications for the rural poor
Reports (Intelecon): links to reports, including Universal Access and Universal Service Funds: Insights and Experience of International Best Practice
Extending telecoms access beyond the market (World Bank): links to reports, including Closing the Gap in Access to Rural Communications: Chile 1995-2002 and Peru: Marginal-Urban and Rural Telecommunications Development
Documents & Reports: Universal Service (ITU): links to reports, including Universal Service in the Americas and The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) in India - An Overview
Increasing ICT Access in Rural and Peri-Urban Nepal: an introduction to a project in Nepal with links to information about other projects
Global workshops
Global Symposium for Regulators 2003 (ITU, 2003): links to reports, including a summary of Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2003: Promoting Universal Access to ICTs: Practical Tools for Regulators
Global Symposium for Regulators 2002 (ITU, 2002): links to reports, including Model Universal Service/Access Part I: Universal Service/Access Policy and Creation and Operation of Universal Service Funds, Model Universal Service/Access Part II: Minimum Subsidy Competitive Auction Mechanisms for Funding Public Telecom Access in Rural Areas and Tariff/Interconnection Regulation for the Promotion of Universal Service/Access and Model Universal Service/Access Part III: Telecentres Objectives and Strategies
Regional workshops
Universal Service and Consumer Rights Protection for China (ITU and MII, 2005)
Wireless Solutions for Universal Access/Service (ITU, 2005)
Methods of Universal Service Implementation (AGENTEL, 2004)
Costs, Tariffs and Universal Service for CEE and CIS countries (ITU, 2003)
Universal Access Models (ITU and CTO, 2003)
Universal Access and Services for CEE and Baltic States (ITU, 2002)
Universal Access and Rural Connectivity for Southern and Eastern Africa (TRASA, ITU and CTO, 2002)
European Union
Framework
Universal Service (European Commission): a summary of the policy in the EU with links to information about directives
Scope of Universal Service (European Commission, 2005): a consultation about the policy in the EU
Details in European countries
Service universel et obligations de service public (ARCEP, 2005): a newsletter special issue
Le service universel des télécommunications (ARCEP): a summary of the policy in France
Universal Service Obligation (Ofcom, 2005): a consultation about the policy in the UK
Universal Service in the electronic communications sector (ANRC): a summary of the policy in Romania with links to information about household subsidies, telecentres, payphones, funding and regulations
Comparisons between European countries
Universal Service Designation (Independent Regulators Group, 2003)
The development of broadband access in rural and remote areas (OECD, 2004)
Implementation & Enforcement (European Commission)
European Universal Service Atlas (European Commission)
Studies (Cullen): links to reports, including Monitoring the
telecommunications services sector and related aspects in South East Europe Country Comparative Report
and