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The implementation
of Universal Service Support Policy involves
financial support from Universal Service Obligation Fund to meet the net
cost of providing the specified Universal Service Obligation. This covers
both public access as well as provision of household telephones in rural
and remote areas. Selection of the Universal Service Provider is through a
bidding process. Successful bidders are eligible for support from
Universal Service Obligation Fund after scrutiny of detailed claims
submitted by them. The CCA is responsible for verification of the
claims and release of payments. They are also responsible for
inspection and monitoring, for establishing the veracity of claims.
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For Data on Subsidy Disbursement Amount/DELs
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For Details of Subsidised Connections in Haryana As a Subsidy Claimant
under USO in Haryana Circle you may like to know about: 1.
Universal
Service Obligation
(FOR UP TO DATE STATUS ON CLAIMS USPs MAY PLEASE CHECK
MAILBOX) NOTE: All Terms and Conditions of USO Agreement are to
be followed strictly and this page is only to serve as a guide for Service
Providers. The Contact Person
for License Fees in the Office of CCA Haryana
2.
Role of the CCA Office in Subsidy disbursement
3.
Transfer of Work relating to USO to CCA Office
4.
Subsidy Support in Haryana and
STATISTICS
5. Salient Features of USO Agreements in Haryana
6. Check points for Claim Preparation
7.
Table Showing agreements under which subsidy is
disbursed in Office of JCCA Haryana
8.
IMPORTANT NOTICES FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS CLAIMING
SUBSIDY UNDER VARIOUS AGREEMENTS
is:
CAO (USO)
Shri
R.K.Sharma
Office of CCA Haryana
CTO Compound
Ambala Cantt
Ph: 2600826,
2688826
Fax: 2603435
Please contact him for any other queries in this regard
For more Information on USO please see DOT Website: www.dotindia.com
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The Universal Service Support Policy came into effect from 1.4.2002. The
Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act 2003 giving statutory status to the Universal
Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was passed by both Houses of Parliament in
December 2003. Deemed to have come into effect from 1st April 2002, the
Fund is to be utilized exclusively for meeting the Universal Service
Obligation and the balance to the credit of the Fund will not lapse at the
end of the financial year. Credits to the Fund shall be through
Parliamentary approvals. The Rules for administration of the Fund have
also been notified on 26.3.2004
The Universal Service Obligation Fund is headed by
the Administrator, USF. The Administrator is empowered to formulate
procedures for implementation of the USO and disbursement of funds from
the USOF. His office functions as an Attached office of the Department of
Telecom, Ministry of Communications & IT.
The Universal Service Levy is presently
5% of the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of all telecom service providers
except the pure value added service providers like Internet, Voice Mail,
E-Mail service providers etc. As per the Rules, the following activities
are to be supported by the USOF, namely:-
Stream I: Provision of Public Telecom and Information
Services -
a)
Operation and Maintenance of Village Public Telephones (VPTs) in the
villages identified as per Census 1991 and installation of VPTs in the
additional revenue villages as per Census 2001.
b) Provision of
additional Rural Community Phones (RCPs) in villages with population more
than 2000, after achieving the target of one VPT in every village.
c) Replacement of
Multi Access Radio Relay (MARR) based VPTs installed before 1.4.2002.
d) Up-gradation of
a Public Telephone to Public Telecom and Information Centers (PTICs) in
villages with population more than 2000, for providing data
applications including FAX, e-mail, internet besides voice-telephony.
e) Installation
of High Speed PTICs (HPTICs) for providing additional facilities including
tele-education and tele-medicine at Block Headquarters and in villages
with a population exceeding 2000.
Note: Unless otherwise specified by the Central
Government, the Secondary Switching Area (SDCA) shall be taken as a unit
for the purpose of arriving at the Net Cost for activities specified in
items (a) to (e) of stream I.
Stream-II: Provision of household telephones in rural
and remote areas.
For household DELs installed prior to 1st day of
April, 2002, the difference in rental actually charged from rural
subscribers and rent prescribed by TRAI of India for such subscribers
shall be reimbursed until such time the Access Deficit Charges prescribed
by TRAI from time to time take into account such difference.
For household DELs installed after 1st day of April,
2002, Capital Recovery, Operational Expenses and Revenue shall be taken
into account to determine the Net Cost.
Note: Unless otherwise specified by the Central
Government, the Short Distance Charging Area shall be taken as a unit for
the purpose of arriving at the Net Cost for activities specified in item
(b) of stream II
For
more information on USO Fund please visit the site www.dotindia.com
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The implementation of Universal
Service Support Policy involves financial support from Universal Service
Obligation Fund to meet the net cost of providing the specified Universal
Service Obligation. This covers both public access as well as provision of
household telephones in rural and remote areas. Selection of the Universal
Service Provider is through a bidding process. Successful bidders are
eligible for support from Universal Service Obligation Fund after scrutiny
of detailed claims submitted by them. The Controller of
Communication Accounts is responsible for:
- Verification of the
claims and release of payments.
- Inspection
and monitoring, for establishing the veracity of claims.
- Proper accounting of
all transactions relating to the USF Fund
- CCAs submit detailed
returns and reports to USF Administration at DOT HQ regarding receipt
of claims from Service Providers, settlement of claims, requisition of
funds, disbursement of subsidy and monitoring status and reports in
the prescribed formats and
as per schedule prescribed
by DOT HQ.
3. Transfer of Work to CCA Offices
The work relating to USF commenced in the CCA Offices w.e.f the
Claims for the Quarter ending 31.12.03. Initially vide letter No:
30-15/2002-USF (VolII) dated 5.2.04 disbursement of Subsidy towards (a)
Operation and Maintenance of Village Public Telephones (VPTs) and (b)
Replacement of MARR VPTs (VPTs to be replaced w.e.f 1.7.03) was
transferred to CCA Offices. This included the work of monitoring of
information furnished in the claims. Subsequently the work relating to
disbursement of Subsidy towards (c) Replacement of MARR VPTs replaced
between 1.4.02 and 30.6.03 as well as (d) Provision of Rural Community
Phones and (e) Rural Household Dels was given to CCA offices.
4. Subsidy Support in Haryana
In Haryana, the Office
of the JCCA is at present disbursing subsidy under various agreements as
detailed below:
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5. Salient Features Of Agreements
- OPERATION
AMD MAINTENANCE
OF VILLAGE PUBLIC TELEPHONES
·
The Agreement
is valid for a period of seven years.
·
SSA-wise
technology specific Representative Rate for which subsidy is to be given
forms part of the agreement.
·
For wireless
technologies, WLL rate shall apply wherever no Representative Rate has
emerged, unless specifically allowed.
·
The VPTs on any
wireless technology shall be provided using Fixed wireless Terminals (FWTs)
·
Review of
representative Rate in the third year taking into account, inter-alia, the
increase in revenue on account of provision of STD facility.
The revised rates to be applicable from the 4th year
onwards (already undertaken)
·
Disbursement of
subsidy to be made quarterly undertaken).
·
Claims to be
submitted within 30 days from the close of the quarter. (revised from the
earlier 15 days).
·
For amounts
received in excess of 10% of the subsidy due for a financial year, the
entire amount paid in excess shall be recovered along with an interest
from the date of disbursement at the Prime Lending Rate of SBI.
·
Deduction of
pro-rata subsidy on account of telephones
remaining faulty for more than seven days in a quarter.
In cases where the VPT remains faulty for 45 days or more in a
quarter, no subsidy for the entire quarter shall be allowed.
·
With effect
from the quarter ending 30.09.2004, VPTs that remain disconnect -ed
on account of non-payment and VPTs that
register no incremental meter reading during the entire quarter
shall not qualify for any support for that quarter vide letter No.
30-101/2002-USF dated 14-09-2004.
·
MARR VPTs on
their replacement will not be eligible for subsidy under this Agreement.
·
The Universal
Service Provider may change the location of VPTs to provide better access
to the public within the same village.
No payments for relocating the VPTs will be made from USOF on the
expenditure incurred on relocation.
·
Performance
Bank Guarantee (PBG) equivalent to one quarter’s subsidy
payable for all the VPTs in the Service Area for which the
Agreement has been entered into. For BSNL the requirement for submission for PBG has been
waived as long as it is a 100% Govt. owned company.
The PBGs are presently being kept at USF HQs.
·
The Agreement
for J&K Service Area will be renewed Yearly.
- REPLACEMENT
OF MARR VILLAGE PUBLIC TELEPHONE
·
Subsidy for a
VPTs shall be for seven years from the date of its replacement or up to
the date of termination of Agreement, whichever is earlier.
·
Roll-out
obligation prescribing 50% of the MARR VPTs in the Service Area to be
replaced within one year from the effective date of the Agreement and the
balance within two years from the effective date of the Agreement. The period has been extended to 3 years vide letter No.
30-107.2002-USF dated 21/10/2004.
·
Provision of
Liquidated Damages in case of non-fulfillment of the roll out obligation.
The liquidated damages shall be at 10% of the annual subsidy
payable for those VPTs for each calendar month of delay or part thereof,
subject to a maximum of 20% of the annual subsidy payable.
·
SSA wise
technology neutral Representative Rates.
·
Review of
representative Rate in the third year taking into account, inter-alia the
increase in revenue on account of provision of STD facility. The revised rates to be applicable from the 4th
year onwards. The review has
already been undertaken.
·
Disbursement of
subsidy to be made quarterly in arrears.
·
Claims to be
submitted within 30 days from the close of the quarter.
·
For amount
received in excess of 10% of the subsidy due for the financial year, the
entire amount paid in excess shall be recovered along with an interest
from the date of disbursement at the Prime Lending Rate of SBI.
·
Deduction of
pro-rata subsidy on account of telephones remaining faulty for more than
seven days in a quarter. In
cases where the VPTs remains faulty for 45 days or more than in a quarter,
no subsidy for the entire quarter shall be allowed.
·
With effect
from the quarter ending 30-09-2004 VPTs that remain disconnected on
account of non payment and VPTs that register no incremental meter reading
during the entire quarter shall not qualify for any support for that
quarter.
·
Since BSNL only
has emerged as the successful bidder, no performance Bank Guarantee has
been imposed. For BSNL the
requirement for submission of PBG has been waived as long as it is a 100%
Government owned Company.
·
The Agreement
is valid for a total period
of 8
(Eight) years
from the Effective
date. The subsidy support
shall be extended up to a maximum period of 5 (Five) years from the date
the VPT/RCP is installed and made functional.
·
The universal
Service Provider shall receive the Subsidy consisting of a
front loaded subsidy component and equated annual subsidy upto a
maximum period
of five years, from
the date the VPT/RCP is
provided and made
functional
·
The front
loaded subsidy shall be given at the end of the quarter in which VPT is
installed and made functional. The
equated annual subsidy shall be disbursed in four quarterly installments
during each financial year, with each quarter ending on 30th of
June, 30th of September and 31st of March.
·
Deduction of
pro-rata subsidy on account of telephones remaining faulty for mare than
seven days in a quarter. In
cases where the VPT/RCP remains
faulty for 45 days or more in a quarter, no subsidy for the entire quarter shall be allowed.
·
VPTs/RCPs
that register no incremental
meter reading/calls or remain
disconnected due to non-payment during an entire quarter shall not
qualify for subsidy support for that quarter.
·
Roll out obligation: At
least 20% of the VPTs/RCPs
shall be provided by the end
of 2nd year. The balance of the VPTs/RCPs shall be provided by
the end of third year from the effective date of Agreement.
·
For the
shortfall in providing the required number of VPTs/RCPs by the end of
second third year respectively, liquidated Damages at the rate of 5% of
front loaded subsidy payable for those VPTs/RCPs for each calendar month
of delay or part thereof, subject to a maximum of 10% of the front loaded
subsidy thus payable for those VPTs/RCPs shall be recovered, unless the
delay has been condoned.
·
The universal
Service Provider shall submit a Performance Bank Guarantee(PBG) valid for
one year equivalent to front loaded subsidy disbursable under the
Agreement for 2% of the VPTs/RCPs in all the SSAs of the Service Area for
which the Agreement is entered into.
·
From
the start of the second year the amount of PBG shall have to be equivalent
to the front loaded subsidy disbursable under the Agreement for 60% of the
VPTs/RCPs in all the SSAs of the Service Area for which the Agreement is
entered into. The PBG shall be reduced to its original amount from the
start of the fourth year or on completion of the roll out obligation by
installing all VPTs/RCPs in all the SSAs of the Service Area for which
Agreement is entered into, whichever is later.
For BSNL the requirement for submission of PBG has been waived as
long as it is a d100% Government owned Company.
The Performance Bank Guarantees are being presently maintained at
USF HQs.
- SALIENT FEATURES OF AGREEMENT
FOR PROVISION OF RURAL HOUSEHOLD DELS
(INSTALLED
PRIOR TO 1.4.2002)
·
Support has
been provided for Rural household Direct Exchange Lines (DELS) installed
prior to 1.4.2002 to BSNL on the terms and conditions specified.
No other Private Basic Service Operators has furnished any claim
·
The period of
Subsidy support from Universal Service obligation Fund is 1.4.2002 to
31.01.2004.
·
Only the rural
household DELs on Fixed line telephony Service including wireless in local
loop technology (Fixed) qualify for subsidy support from USOF.
Public telephones (PCOs/VPTs) and WLL (Mobile) and other Mobile
Services are NOT eligible for subsidy support from USOF.
·
The Subsidy
support from USOF for each rural household DEL is the difference between
the monthly Rental prescribed by TRAI and the monthly Rental charged by
the Service Provider.
·
The rural
household DELS that are closed permanently between 1.4.2002 to 31.1.2004,
either on account of surrenders or on account of non-payment by the
subscribers, shall be eligible to receive subsidy support from USOF from
1.4.2002 till the end of the month preceding the month in which they are
closed.
·
The subsidy
support from USOF is to be disbursed in two installments-one covering the
financial year 2002-03 and the second installment covering the period
1.4.2003 to 31.01.2004.
·
The source of
information for filling the claim is the billing record.
·
Roll
out
- SALIENT FEATURES OF AGREEMENT
FOR PROVISION OF RURAL HOUSEHOLD DELS
(INSTALLED DURING 1.4.2005 TO 31.3.2007)
·
The Rural
Household Direct Exchange Lines (RDELS) shall be provided in the specified
short distance charging areas(SDCA).
·
The support to
be given will comprise a front loaded subsidy and an equated annual
subsidy where payable based on Capital Recovery annualized over a period
of seven years and annual Operation and Maintenance expenditure for
provision of the customer premises terminal equipment inclusive of the
local loop minus the annual Revenue.
Only the rural household DELs installed after the effective date of
the Agreement, on fixed wire lines (Landline) and wireless in local loop
technology (Fixed WLL) will qualify for subsidy support from USO Fund.
Public telephones (VPTs/PCOs/RCPs) WLL (Mobile)
services
will not be eligible for subsidy support from USO Fund under
this
Agreement.
·
The Agreement
shall be valid for a period of 5 years from 1.4.2005.
·
The Universal
Service Provider shall receive the Subsidy towards Rural Household DELs
installed up to 31.03.2007. The
equated annual subsidy where payable shall be paid from the date the rural
household DEL is installed and made functional up to the validity period
of the Agreement..
·
The front
loaded subsidy shall be payable only for net addition of rural household
DELs in a local exchange area. Net
addition shall mean the number of RDELs added after making adjustment for
RDELs closed permanently on account of surrenders, non-payment or shifts
out of the Local Exchange Area.
·
The Universal
Service Provider shall be eligible to submit the claim for front loaded
subsidy at the end of the quarter in which the Rural Household DELs are
installed and made functional. The
equated annual subsidy where payable shall be disbursed in four quarterly
installments during each financial year, with each quarter ending on 30th
of June, 30th of September, 31st of December and 31st
of March.
·
Deduction of
pro-rata equated annual subsidy on account of telephones remaining faulty
for more than seven days in a quarter.
In case where the DEL remains faulty for 45 days or more in a
quarter, no subsidy for the entire quarter shall be allowed.
·
Where the
Representative Rate for the Equated Annual Subsidy is zero, Rs. 250 (two
hundred and fifty) shall be taken as the rate of Equated Annual Subsidy
for the purpose of deduction on account of faults.
·
Initially, the
amount of Performance Bank Guarantee shall be Rs. 50 lakhs (Rs. Fifty
Lakhs), to be submitted within seven days of issue of letter of intent.
·
For
the 2nd and
3rd year of
the Agreement, the
amount of
PBG shall be
equivalent to 25% of the
front loaded subsidy
payable during the previous year or Rs. 50 Lakhs, whichever is
higher. From 4th
year onwards and till the validity period of the Agreement, amount of PBG
shall be Rs. 50 lakhs (Rs Fifty Lakhs).
·
For
BSNL the requirement for submission of PBG has been waived as long as it
is a 100% Government owned
Company.
·
For the RDEls not provided as per the Rollout required to be
achieved, without prior written concurrence of the Administrator, the
delayed period shall entail recovery of Liquidated Damages (L.D.).
·
For
Rural DELs installed during 1.4.2002 to 31.3.2005 similar Terms and
conditions would be applicable except that.
(i)
the Roll Out Obligation is not part of the Agreement,
(ii)
the period of support will be for five years from the date of
installation of the RDEL and
(iii)
the quarterly claims for period that has already elapsed can be
submitted
F.
Quality of Service Parameters (VPTs/RDELs/RCPs)
● The Quality of Service Parameters for Basic Telecommunication
Services as prescribed by TRAI shall prevail.
● The Universal
Service Provider shall ensure the Quality of Service (QoS) as prescribed
by the TRAI from time to time. The
Universal Service Provider shall adhere to such QoS
standards and provide timely information as required therein.
● The ADMINISTRATOR or TRAI may carry out performance tests
either directly by themselves or through authorized agency and also
evaluate the QoS parameters for the RDELs/RCPs/VPTs at any time during the
validity period of the AGREEMENT. The Universal Service Provider shall
provide ingress and other support including documents, instruments,
equipments, equipment etc. for carrying out such performance tests and
evaluation of Quality of Service Parameters.
● The Universal
Service Provider will keep a record of RDELs/RCPs/VPTs indicating faults
and rectification reports and other related details in respect of the
service rendered, which will be produced before the ADMINISTRATOR or TRAI
as and when and in whatever from desired.
● The Universal Service Provider shall be responsive to the
complaints lodged by its customers. They
shall rectify the deficiencies and maintain the history sheets for each
installation, statistics and analysis on the overall maintenance status.
● Proper arrangement should be made by the USPs for reporting / booking faulty RDEL/RCPs/VPTs and its regular testing. Print out of line tests of RDELs/RCPs/VPTs and record of metered call units (MCUs) should be preserved by the Universal Service Provider for a period of at least six months or till the final settlement of subsidy claimed, whichever is later.
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6.
CHECKLIST FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS WHILE SUBMITTING CLAIMS
Please refer to the
Section on Salient features of various Agreements for specific points
to check.
Click here for
salient Features
Please make sure that:
i.
Claim
must be submitted within prescribed time frame. Subsidy
disbursement is Quarterly in arrears and claims must be submitted within
30 days of the close of the Quarter.
ii.
Claim
is in prescribed proforma and is complete in every respect.
iii.
Claim
to be accompanied by affidavit in prescribed form.
iv.
Initials
of Authorized representative
on each page of claim.
v.
Consolidation
Sheet and last page of claim statement must carry signature of the
authorized representative with the company seal.
vi.
In
addition to hard copy claims must also be submitted in CD with the
signature of the authorized representative and seal of the company on the
CD.
vii.
Claim
must be accompanied by all the relevant documents as specified in
Agreement.
viii.
Stamped
pre-receipted bill to be given along with claim.
ix.
Representative
rates used must be as per concerned Agreement.
x.
Name
of SSA/SDCA should match with the list given in the agreement
xi.
Suffix
123 etc for more than one village in the same SSA with the same
name.
xii.
For
pro rata calculations take the of number of days in the quarters
(90/91/92)
xiii.
Make
sure that the consolidation sheet tallies with detailed claim
statement.
xiv.
Add
up each incidence of fault during the quarter.
xv.
Include
both from and to dates in calculating the number of days of fault.
xvi.
Commencing
Quarter ending 30.9.03 VPTs remaining DNP or registering no incremental
meter reading during entire quarter, to be treated as faulty and
subsidy not to be claimed in their case for that quarter.
xvii.
Opening
Balance of connections of present Quarter must tally with closing balance
shown in consolidation sheet of previous Quarter.
A. CLAIMS FOR PROVISION OF RURAL COMMUNITY PHONES
i.
Please
submit a copy of the first bill in support of claim for RCPs
ii. Claim should be only for list of Villages for provision of RCPs as approved by DOT
iii. Before installation of RCP, USP is responsible for ensuring that no STD PCO (of any USP) already exists in the village. In case of pre-existence of an STD PCO in village, RCP claim shall be rejected/recovered.
i.
Please
submit Bill Summary as specified in Agreement in support of Claims.
ii.
The
number of permanently closed DELs reflected in the claim statement should
be from out of the DELs installed on or after 1.4.02.
iii.
Opening
Balance of DELs should be DELs existing as on 1.4.02
iv.
In
Attatchment 1/2 to Annexure I(summary and claims statement for front
loaded subsidy), the highest number of Rural DELs in any previous
Quarter(Column No 10) is to be considered from 1.4.02 onwards.
v.
All
Rural DELs installed on or after 1.4.02
i.
Please
submit Bill Summary as specified in Agreement in support of Claims.
ii.
The
number of permanently closed DELs reflected in the claim statement should
be from out of the DELs installed on or after from 1.4.05.
iii.
Opening
Balance of DELs should be DELs existing as on 1.4.05
iv.
In
Attatchment 1/2 to Annexure I(summary and claims statement for front
loaded subsidy), the highest number of Rural DELs in any previous
Quarter(Column No 10) is to be considered from 1.4.05 onwards.
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Note:
Information as on 25.03.
The
Office of CCA Haryana is not responsible for any typing errors on this
page.
This page is maintained and updated by CAO(USO) Sh Ram Kumar Sharma