Daily Special Current Affairs Material for IAS (Pre) 2013 - Topic: "Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)"
Daily Special Current Affairs Material for IAS (Pre) 2013
Chapter: Science & Technology
Topic: Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
Q. What is Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)?
Ans. The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was established with the fundamental objective of providing access to ‘Basic’ telegraph services to people in the rural and remote areas at affordable and reasonable prices. Subsequently the scope was widened to provide subsidy support for enabling access to all types of telegraph services including mobile services, broadband connectivity and creation of infrastructure like OFC in rural and remote areas.
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Q. How many schemes are being implemented under USOF?
Various schemes for taking communication facilities to the rural and remote areas with the support of USO fund under implementation are –
- 5,79,814 villages i.e. about 97.68% of the Census 2001 inhabited revenue villages have been covered with Village Public Telephone (VPT) facility as on November 30, 2011. VPT facility is likely to be provided in remaining inhabited revenue villages by May, 2012. Setting up and managing 7353 number of infrastructure towers in 500 districts spread over 27 states for provision of mobile services in specified rural and remote areas. 7295 towers i.e. 99.21% towers have been set up till November, 2011.
- In order to provide broadband connectivity to the rural areas, USOF
signed an agreement with BSNL on January 20, 2009 to provide 8,88,832
wire-line Broadband connections to individual users and Government
Institutions and setting up of 28,672 Kiosks over a period of 5years. As on
30th November, 2011, 3, 35,290 broadband
Connections and 6426 kiosk have been provided under this scheme in rural and remote areas. - Recognizing the vital role that Information Communication Technology (ICT) can play in the empowerment of rural women, a scheme called ‘Sanchar Shakti’ has been launched in March, 2011 for pilot projects aimed at facilitating access of Self Help Groups (SHGs) to ICT enabled services. Financial support from USO Fund is to be provided towards VAS subscription for SHGs in accordance with the provisions of underlying subsidy Agreements.
