15th June, 2012 Statutory Instruments 3. These Regulations shall apply to all licensees designated as universal service providers by the Authority. 229 Application PART II UNIVERSAL ACCESS 4. (1) The Authority shall, in promoting the provision of universal access— (a) ensure that the provision of service to unserved and underserved areas meets the requirements of affordability, accessibility, availability, sustainability and quality of service; (b) encourage initiatives to extend, upgrade and expand the capacity and roll out of existing infrastructure in specific areas to unserved or under-served areas, including initiatives by local communities; (c) regularly assess the implementation of universal access programs and take necessary action and adjustments; and (d) establish and determine, for sharing, the net cost of universal access obligations between designated licensees so that universal access obligations do not represent an unfair burden on any licensee providing universal access. 5. (1) The Authority shall, by notice in the Gazette, designate areas as universal service areas. (2) The Authority shall take all reasonable steps to facilitate the advancement of universal access in the totality of any area designated as a universal service area. 6. (1) A licensee may apply to the Authority for designation as a universal service provider in Form I set out in the Schedule. (2) The Authority shall, within sixty days of the receipt of an application under subregulation (1), approve or reject the application: Provided that where the Authority rejects an application, it shall inform the applicant of the reasons for the rejection. (3) The Authority shall, where it approves an application under sub-regulation (1), designate the licensee as a universal service provider, in Form II set out in the Schedule. (4) The Authority shall approve an application for designation as a universal service provider where the Authority is satisfied that— Guiding principles for universal access Designation of universal service areas Designation of universal service providers