Broadband Universal Service Obligation: consultation on design
This consultation seeks views on the specification for a broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) to be set in secondary legislation.
The Digital Economy Act 2017 which received Royal Assent in April, enabled the creation of a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO), giving every household and business the right to request a broadband connection at a minimum speed of at least 10Mbps, up to a reasonable cost threshold - no matter where they live or work. Following this, the Government is consulting on the specific design of the USO which would be set in secondary legislation.
The consultation covers a number of interrelated design issues - the minimum specification, the technologies and providers that can deliver this, affordability, how it is funded and minimising market distortion. It also considers the review of the USO to ensure that it remains relevant over time.