“Constitution & Administration of USO Fund”

1. “Constitution & Administration of USO Fund”

2. Constitution & Administration of USO Fund • USO Policy came into effect from 1-4-2002. • In Dec.2003, The Indian Telegraph(Amendment) Act 2003 was passed by both Houses of Parliament which had given an statutory status to the USO Fund. • To enable USO Support for mobile service and B/Band connectivity also in rural and remote areas of the country Indian telegraph (Amendment) Act 2006 was passed. • The Rules for Administration of fund-Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rule 2006. • Administrator, USOF a senior IAS officer is the Head of USO Fund in India. He is empowered to formulate procedures for implementation of USO and disbursement of funds from USOF. His office is an attached office of the DOT.

3. Field Office : -Controller of Communication Accounts office is performing field function on behalf of the Administrator (USF). There are 26 CCA offices across the country. ADMINISTRATOR (USF) JT. ADMINISTRATOR (F) Jt. Administrator (T) DDG (BB) Dy Administrator I Dy Administrator II Dy Administrator III

4. USO Fund Non-lapsable fund. Transfers to the Fund through Parliamentary approvals. Under the provision of NTP 99 and as per USSP (Universal Service Support Policy) resources for meeting the USO would be raised through Universal Service Levy (USL), which would be a % of the AGR of the Telecom Operators. USL is presently 5% of the AGR of all the Telecom Service Providers except pure VAS providers like Internet, Voice Mail, E-mail Service providers etc. 4

6. BHARAT NIRMAN YOJANA • Bharat Nirman will be a time-bound business plan for action in rural infrastructure for the next four years. Under Bharat Nirman, action is proposed in the areas of irrigation, road, rural housing, rural water supply, rural electrification and rural telecommunication connectivity. We have set specific targets to be achieved under each of these goals so that there is accountability in the progress of this initiative. Prime Minister

7. BNY

8. BHARAT NIRMAN • Telecom connectivity constitutes an important part of the effort to upgrade the rural infrastructure. Under the Bharat Nirman Programme, Rural teledensity (Table-I) of at least 40% by 2014, and Broadband coverage (Table-II) of all 2,50,000 village panchayats & Setting up of Bharat Nirman Common Service Centers  at Panchayat level  by 2012 will be achieved. • DMU-Report Table-I/Table-II

9. VPT IN UNCOVERED VILLAGE(PART OF Bharat Nirman Yojana) 31.12.2009 • VPT for Uncovered Village as per 1991 census (62302 Villages) • This excludes Village with <100 Population • 4343 VPTs – Digital Satellite Phone Terminal • 57959 VPTs – On other Technology • As on 31/12/2009 BNY Achievement is 61186

10. Role of Controller of Communication Accounts Office • Monitoring of USO Projects and co-ordination with State, other Central Govt. organization and Telecom Operators. • Scrutiny of USO Subsidy claim received from IP and USP • Disbursement of USO subsidy • Inspection and verification • Collection of Universal Access Service levy (UASL) from all Telecom Operators.

11. State Government Co-ordiantion by CCA with State Govt.,IPs &USPs Discussion & Proposed remedy Solution Solution CCA Problem Problem USP IP

12. ROLE OF CCA OFFICE MAXIMISE PUBLIC AIM Subsidy Claimed Subsidy Permissible PRIVTATE AIM Win- Win! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED THE USOF AGREEMENT IS ESSENTIALY ONE OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) FOR SPREAD OF COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO RURAL INDIA PRIVATE AIM: NETWORK EXPANSION, PROFIT PUBLIC AIM: SPREAD OF RURAL TELEPHONY & IT 12

13. THANK YOU Kashi Nath Jha Director,NICF 13