Universal Service Obligation (USO)
The universal service obligation is designed to ensure that all people in Australia, no matter where they live or conduct business, have reasonable access, on an equitable basis, to standard telephone services and payphones.
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has determined that Telstra is the primary universal service provider and is responsible for fulfilling the universal service obligation throughout the whole of Australia.
In accordance with the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999, Telstra has produced the following documents, which set out how it will fulfil this obligation:
- Telstra's Universal Service Obligation Policy Statement (PDF, 104KB)
- Telstra's Universal Service Obligation Policy Statement (DOC, 86KB)
This is a general statement of the policy Telstra will apply in supplying equipment, goods or services as the primary universal service provider.
- Telstra's Universal Service Obligation Standard Marketing Plan (PDF, 542KB)
- Telstra's Universal Service Obligation Standard Marketing Plan (DOC, 674KB)
This plan describes the standard telephone service and payphone service that Telstra will supply throughout Australia, including information on the timeframes for supply and repair of these services.
