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(b) the basic telecommunications services to be included
in universal access obligations;
(c) the geographical areas in which specified levels of
universal access should be achieved; and
(d) the costs of the universal access service obligations.
(4) In preparing a universal access policy, the Regulator
shall ensure that any universal access obligations of service
providers:
(a) are administered in a transparent, non-discriminatory
and competitively neutral manner; and
(b) are bit more burdensome than necessary for the
universal access objectives to be achieved.
(5) The Regulator shall consult with interested parties when
preparing a universal access policy.
(6) Part III of the Public Bodies (Performance and
Accountability) Act 2001 relating to Community Service
Obligations shall not apply to Part IV of this Act
21. Universal Access Fund-(1) Following approval of a
universal access policy, the Minister, by notice in writing, may
establish a Universal Access Fund to be used to subsidize the
net costs of providing universal access.
(2) A Universal Access Fund established under this section
shall be administered by the Regulator and in accordance with
any financial and administrative directors issued in writing by
the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance.
(3) The Universal Access Fund shall be operated out of a
separate account from the Ministry or the operational accounts
of the Regulator.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), where the Minister has
established a Universal Access Fund under subsection (1), the
Minister, by notice in writing from time to time, shall:
(a) Require all licencees to contribute to the Fund; and
(b) Determine the contribution obligations of licencees
and the disbursement procedures of the Fund.
(5) The disbursement procedures of the Universal Access
Fund shall be competitively neutral and market-oriented.