Commonwealth Numbered Acts

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1991 No. 98 of 1991 - SECT 288

288. (1) The universal service obligation is the obligation:

   (a)  to ensure that the standard telephone service is reasonably accessible
        to all people in Australia on an equitable basis, wherever they reside
        or carry on business; and

   (b)  to supply the standard telephone service to people in Australia; and

   (c)  to ensure that payphones are reasonably accessible to all people in
        Australia on an equitable basis, wherever they reside or carry on
        business; and

   (d)  to supply, install and maintain payphones in Australia.

(2) The Minister may determine that it is part of the universal service
obligation to supply, install and maintain payphones at specified locations in
Australia.

(3) A determination under subsection (2) must be made by notice published in
the Gazette.

(4) The regulations may prescribe, for the purposes of paragraph (1) (c), what
is, or is not, necessary to ensure that payphones are reasonably accessible as
mentioned in that paragraph.

(5) Neither of subsections (2) and (4) limits the generality of the other.

(6) In this section:
``Australia" does not include the external Territories to which this Act
extends. ''PRE>