Telecommunications universal service obligation
Issues paper
This paper was released on 7 June 2016 to assist participants in preparing a submission. It outlined a range of issues about which the Commission sought information.
Initial submissions were due by 21 July 2016.
Opportunity for further comment was also sought on the draft report.
This inquiry is complete. The final report was handed to the Australian Government on 28 April 2017 and publicly released on 19 June.
Download the issues paper
- Telecommunications Universal Service Obligation - Issues paper (PDF - 604 Kb)
- Telecommunications Universal Service Obligation - Issues paper (Word - 419 Kb)
- Media release
Productivity Commission seeks views on evolving Australian telecommunications market
The Productivity Commission today called on those interested in the future direction of telecommunications in Australia to contribute to its new public inquiry on the Telecommunications Universal Service Obligation.
'Currently we have in place a Universal Service Obligation that means the government guarantees a minimum level of fixed line voice telephone services and pay phones across Australia,' said Commissioner Paul Lindwall.
'Our inquiry is looking at whether government intervention is still needed to support universal access to a minimum level of telecommunications services, given market, technological and policy developments over the past decade, not least of which is the widespread use of mobile phones and the rollout of the NBN' he said.
The Productivity Commission released today an issues paper to help people prepare their submissions or provide brief comments through the website. The deadline for submissions is 21 July 2016.
'We expect we will hear from our major telecommunications providers on this issue but we are also interested in hearing from individuals, local government and anyone who has a view on the current Universal Service Obligation and future directions for change,' said Commissioner Paul Lindwall.
Information on how to make a submission, which can be a short comment submitted online, can be found at http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/telecommunications.