Universal Service Fund

Our Work

Universal Service Fund

The Fund was established for the promotion of Universal Service. According to the Telecommunications Act 2000, Universal Service includes the provision of:

Public voice telephony;
Internet access;
Telecommunications services to schools, health institutions and similar institutions and the physically challenged;
Or other services by which people access efficient, affordable and modern telecommunications.

Objective of the Fund

As specified by the Act, the source of funding of the Universal Service Fund comes from Telecommunication Providers. The Universal Service Fund Office under the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC), is responsible for its management. The Fund supports the expansion of telecommunications services particularly to the underserved who currently do not have sufficient access and provides telecommunications services which are readily accessible and affordable. Support is provided for the introduction and expansion of telecommunications services to schools, health facilities and other organizations serving public needs as well as for the promotion of technological innovation in the telecommunications sector.

All projects are subsidized by the NTRC Universal Service Fund (USF), for a period of five (5) years. Currently, the USFO is in the process of reinstating some of its closed projects for a one-year period. We also have a new initiative, the Bus Shelter Project, in the works.

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, under its Universal Service mandate is requesting project proposals from any legal entity, group or person, in keeping with the stipulated requirements. All Project proposals are to be submitted on the approved application form which may be obtained from the office of the Commission or on the Commission’s website at https://www.ntrcslu.lc/. To submit Project Proposals and for further information, the Commission’s Universal Service Fund Office can be contacted as listed below:

The Universal Service Fund Administrator

Telephone Number: +1 758 572 USFO (8736)

Email address: ntrc@ntrcslu.lc / ntrc_slu@candw.lc and copied to sjones@ntrcslu.lc / sjones@ectel.int