The legal obligations to provide universal access to fixed line telephone services are set out in regulation 9 of the European Communities (Voice Telephony and Universal Service) Regulations 1999 (SI No. 71 of 1999). In accordance with this provision, an operator designated to meet universal service obligations must meet all reasonable requests for connection to the fixed public telephone network.
The Commission for Communications Regulation, in accordance these regulations, is responsible for the designation of the universal service provider and ensuring the universal service provider complies with its obligations, including determination of the reasonableness of requests. Eircom has been designated by the commission as the universal service provider in the State.
The legislative framework on universal service provision in the telecommunication market has been in place since before the privatisation of Telecom Éireann and is not affected by it.
As regards the particular case referred to by the Deputy, I have no function in the matter. If the universal service provider is inhibited from meeting its obligations by planning considerations, it would be a matter for the Commission for Communications Regulation to determine whether any refusal to supply was reasonable.
