I propose to take Questions Nos. 433, 435 and 436 together.
In June 2012 the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) extended until June 2014, a universal service obligation (USO) addressed to Eircom, which among other things, requires that line rental for basic fixed line telephone services is available to end users at a standard price across the country. There are no proposals to amend this obligation.
Separately, ComReg published a decision (ref. no., 13/14) on its website last week, which allows Eircom greater flexibility in setting wholesale rates for bundled services offered to its competitors at telephone exchanges where there is already active competition among service providers and/or exchanges where next generation access services are available. The retail price for basic fixed line telephone services is not altered as a consequence of the decision and remains at a standard price across the country in line with Eircom’s universal service obligation. This was an independent decision reached by ComReg in accordance with its mandate. I had no statutory function in the process.