Article 14º
Basic service and universal service
1. For the purpose of this Law, the Basic Telecommunications Service
consists of a nationwide fixed switched telephony service. Its function is to
ensure, as its main priority, the State contribution to the purpose of the universal
service as stipulated in item 3 of this Article, with the Incumbent Carrier being
responsible for the operation thereof, on an exclusive basis, under contract.
2. The State is responsible for ensuring the existence, availability and
progressive access of communities to basic telecommunication services in all of
the national territory, meeting the communication needs of citizens as well as
that of economic and social activities. Such service shall offer international
connections, to meet the requirement for a wellbalanced economic and social
development.
3. The obligations of the Universal Service are designed to ensure access by
all individuals and public institutions to telecommunication services, under
conditions of equality and continuity, regardless of geographical location or
economic status, as well as to provide telecommunication services in the public
interest and utility, available nationwide and adequate to meet the needs of a
faster development.
4. The Telecommunications Department regulates the Universal Service
obligations that are imposed on public utility carriers, through definitions
contained in the General Plan for Universal Access, to which the Basic Services
must contribute decisively.
Article 15º
Planning the universal service
1. In order to guarantee universal access and the development of
telecommunications, the Universal Service Fund is hereby established.
2. The Government shall issue a specific charter determining the
composition, responsibilities, competence and jurisdiction of the Universal
Service Fund.
3. The telecommunication public network carriers and the telecommunication
service providers for public use will participate in financing the universal service,
under the terms to be established in the aforementioned charter.
4. Contributions paid into the Universal Service Fund do not exempt carriers
from complying with other obligations stipulated in concession contracts and
licenses.