Challenges and opportunities for using universal service funds to bridge the digital divide
Geneva: ITU (2024), 10 pp.
"This document presents the joint interim (annual) deliverable for Question 4/1, “Economic aspects of national telecommunications/ICTs”, and Question 5/1, “Telecommunications/ICTs for rural and remote areas”. It concerns the challenges and opportunities associated with using universal service funds to bridge the digital divide." (Executive summary)
1. Introduction, 2
2 National economic strategies on expanding rural and remote infrastructure to bridge the digital divide using universal service mechanisms or a universal service fund, 2
3 Funding sources, 3
4 The focus of USF, 3
5 USF governance models and implementations, 4
6 Disbursement from USF, 4
7 Universal service programmes to bridge the digital divide, 5
8 Using USF to move from ICT access to ICT use, 6
9 Selecting USF business models and case studies on economic strategies, 6
10 Cost modelling for USF, 7
11 Resources provided by the Telecommunication Development Bureau, 8
12 Results of online mini survey, 9
13 Conclusions, 9
2 National economic strategies on expanding rural and remote infrastructure to bridge the digital divide using universal service mechanisms or a universal service fund, 2
3 Funding sources, 3
4 The focus of USF, 3
5 USF governance models and implementations, 4
6 Disbursement from USF, 4
7 Universal service programmes to bridge the digital divide, 5
8 Using USF to move from ICT access to ICT use, 6
9 Selecting USF business models and case studies on economic strategies, 6
10 Cost modelling for USF, 7
11 Resources provided by the Telecommunication Development Bureau, 8
12 Results of online mini survey, 9
13 Conclusions, 9
