The European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) establishes a framework for universal service obligations (USO) in the EU Member States. The overarching aim of universal service is to ensure that adequate broadband internet access and voice communications services are available to all consumers in their territories at an affordable price.
WIK-Consult has evaluated the implementation of the universal service obligation in the Member States, identifying potential shortcomings in the current framework. Various options for addressing these weaknesses were developed to ensure that the USO regime is fit for purpose in the coming years and following the anticipated switch-off of legacy copper networks across the EU were developed and their impacts were examined.
The evidence suggests that it is justified to maintain the Universal Service provisions in the DNA, while adapting them to improve the effectiveness of affordability measures and limit the administrative burden that has been associated with the USO regime in the EECC in some Member States.
The preferred option would be to maintain but simplify provisions relating to availability of adequate broadband under the USO and improve the transparency of affordability provisions, while limiting the affordability provisions to consumers with low income and special social needs. When used, social tariffs would be provided by all telecom service providers. Provisions relating to the designation of specific operators and related requirements for compensation of net costs would be removed. The potential for industry funding would also be removed under this option. This would limit the administrative costs associated with universal service. Where necessary, compensation could still be provided via existing mechanisms such as through SGEI or State Aid.
