Incentives to Telecom Sector

Under various schemes of Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) financial support is provided for extending telecom service to rural and remote areas which contribute to increase in teledensity in these areas. These schemes include provision of fixed line telephones as well as creation of infrastructure for provision of mobile services in rural and remote areas. 

A Committee consisting of following members has been set up by Minister of Communications and Information Technology on 15th July, 2011 to consider all aspects of delay in roll out of mobile services under Shared Mobile Infrastructure Scheme of USOF and suggest appropriate action that may be required to be taken in the facts and circumstances of the case; 

(i) Secretary (Telecom), Chairman of the Committee
(ii) Member (Technology) 
(iii) Member (Finance) 
(iv) Administrator, USO Fund
(v) Sr. DDG(AS), DoT
(vi) Jt. Administrator (Technical), USO Fund
(vii) Jt. Administrator (Finance), USO Fund
(viii) Legal Advisor (Telecom) 

The Committee is to complete the exercise and submit its report within a period of eight weeks. 

This information was given by Shri Milind Deora, the Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.