Universal Service Obligations in the Communications Sector two dimensions - universal access - universal availability of socially desired content (culture - national identity, education, plurality) TC, postal services, BC, CATV challenges - competition - convergence

Convergence Stages Toward Mediamatics until 1970ssince 1970ssince 1980s telecommunicationsTELEcommunications + inforMATICS = TELEMATICS electr. MEDIA + teleMATICS = MEDIAMATICS computers (informatics) broadcasting (electr. mass media incl. CATV)

Competion & Internet new sources and forms of financing (funds); dynamic approach (periodic reviews); extended univ. serv. definitions (internet, broadband) differences in approach: - internet access not included in USO; if more than basic telephony --> funding out federal budgets, not from incumbent or fund - internet telephony not included (no voice telephony) - competition policy goals prevail USA: extenside (health care, education and information policy goals are included as well)

Universal Service Policy Reform in the EU reform in EU: (proposal for a directive on univ. serv., 2000) Internet accesss part of universal service obligation national obligations beyond access are possible; not to be funded by the industry no "must carry" regullations for the internet public internet service?

Social Inclusiveness eEurope Action Plan ( ): an information society for all common goals to be implemented on the national level; EU bechmarks the progress inclusiveness also regarding SMEs ("Go Digital") actions: to acquire digital skills at school, to adapt skills for employability, to increase quality and efficiency of public sevices

Integrated Universal Service Approach re-examination due to mew media-mix coordination of universal service obligations: TC and postal services reform of public broadcasting system - a public internet? - separation of public duty (desired content) from public broadcasting company - financed from a commom fund - coordination btw univ, access obligations and publicly desired content