Universal service in the European Union

Since the late 1980s, the European Union (EU) has pursued a program of comprehensive telecommunications liberalization. The increased reliance on competition necessitated the establishment of explicit universal service policies. European universal service policies define the scope and cost of universal service as well as permissible funding mechanisms. Emphasizing competition over social goals, the EU has adopted a rather narrow version of universal service. Future revisions may provide an opportunity to adopt a more ambitious universal service model.