Telecom Universal Service Funds - Passive funds or Active Instruments of Social Change?

USFs are mandated to extend telecommunication services to the largest number of people at affordable prices. In discharging their obligations, USFs must attempt to not only include socially disadvantaged segments like women and people with disabilities, but also need to be flexible to widen their scope to include broadband delivery, and actively pursue objectives and actions towards social change. VNL’s position paper on USFs attempts to answer the oft-debated question: Are USFs useful? And if so, under what circumstances?