USF STUDY – APRIL 2013 UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND AND DIGITAL INCLUSION FOR ALL STUDY June 2013 USF STUDY – APRIL 2013 Table of Contents 1. Introduction and overview ............................................................................................................. 6 1.1 The USF Concept ..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 How Does a USF Operate? ...................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 USF Study and Mandate .......................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Report Focus and High Level Findings .................................................................................................. 7 1.5 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 10 2. Success factors IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE USF ................................................................ 10 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 10 2.2 Legal and Regulatory Framework ......................................................................................................... 10 2.3 Autonomy and Independence ............................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Policy Articulation .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.5 Consultation with Stakeholders ............................................................................................................ 11 2.6 Delineation of Responsibilities between USF and Other Government Entities or External Agencies ................................................................................................................................................ 12 2.7 Defined and Measurable Objectives ..................................................................................................... 12 2.8 Flexibility and Neutrality in Service Deployment ................................................................................. 12 2.9 Fair and Objective Project Allocation Process .................................................................................... 13 2.10 Capacity Building, Sustainability and Complementary Services ....................................................... 13 2.11 Innovation and Incentives ..................................................................................................................... 14 2.12 Visibility, Transparency and Accountability......................................................................................... 14 2.13 Digital Inclusion Responsiveness......................................................................................................... 14 3. CHALLENGES IN USF ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................... 15 3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 15 3.2 Underlying Legal and Regulatory Framework ..................................................................................... 15 3.3 Difficulty to Adapt to Changing Requirements and Focus ................................................................. 16 3.4 Correlation between USF Levies and Demand .................................................................................... 16 3.5 Structural Matters .................................................................................................................................. 16 3.6 Definition of USF Strategy and Objectives ........................................................................................... 17 1 USF STUDY – APRIL 2013 3.7 Managerial, Operational and Capacity Issues...................................................................................... 17 3.8 Transparency, Visibility and Accountability in USF Reporting .......................................................... 17 3.9 Oversight and Governance ................................................................................................................... 17 3.10 Project Allocation Process .................................................................................................................... 18 3.11 Consideration of Digital Inclusion......................................................................................................... 18 3.12 Constraints to Broadband Deployment ................................................................................................ 18 3.13 Underlying Infrastructure and Facilities ............................................................................................... 19 3.14 Availability of Resources and Knowledge ........................................................................................... 19 3.15 Local Conditions and Related Security ................................................................................................ 19 4. BLUEPRINT FOR BEST PRACTICES IN USFs ............................................................................. 19 4.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 20 4.2 Planning for the Future .......................................................................................................................... 23 5. DIGITAL INCLUSION ..................................................................................................................... 24 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 24 5.2 Digital Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities ..................................................................................... 24 5.2.1 United Nations Convention ......................................................................................... 25 5.3 Accessibility and Persons with Disabilities ......................................................................................... 26 5.4 Digital Inclusion and Women and Girls ................................................................................................ 29 5.5 Accessibility and Women and Girls ...................................................................................................... 29 5.5.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................... 29 5.5.2 Youth and Children ..................................................................................................... 31 5.5.3 Indigenous Peoples .................................................................................................... 31 5.6 Universal Service Funding and Digital Inclusion ................................................................................. 31 5.6.1 Persons with Disabilities ............................................................................................ 31 5.6.2 Women and girls ......................................................................................................... 32 5.6.3 Anchor institutions and Community ICT Centres for Digital Inclusion .................... 33 5.7 Current Levels of Digital Inclusion in USFs ......................................................................................... 33 6. UNDERLYING USF FRAMEWORK ON A REGIONAL BASIS ....................................................... 36 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 36 6.2 Africa ....................................................................................................................................................... 36 6.2.1 Burkina Faso ............................................................................................................... 37 6.2.2 Cameroon .................................................................................................................... 39 2 USF STUDY – APRIL 2013 6.2.3 Cote d’Ivoire ................................................................................................................ 40 6.2.4 Democratic Republic of Congo................................................................................... 40 6.2.5 Gabon .......................................................................................................................... 41 6.2.6 Ghana .......................................................................................................................... 42 6.2.7 Lesotho ........................................................................................................................ 45 6.2.8 Madagascar ................................................................................................................. 46 6.2.9 Mali............................................................................................................................... 47 6.2.10 Mauritius .....................................................................................................................