While the first may no longer be technically feasible or appropriate, he explained that the latter is rarely achieved. He warned that open competition will expose existing affordability issues. Mr. Jamison explained the importance of the regulators' commitment to universal service, both to customers and investors. That commitment must be well understood by both and must be able to straddle political elections. Hence, it is also critical that the regulators remain independent and credible.
Countries currently approach the goal of universal service with different public policies.
The United States applies universal service obligations to all carriers, and the funding is portable. Mr. Jamison asserted that generally, competition helps to achieve universal service, and he used the cases of Sri Lanka and Ghana, and the Philippines as positive examples. H. Nape L. Maepa provided the audience a regulator's perspective, comparing South Africa's regulatory agency to the United States' Federal Communications Commission. He seconded Mr. Jamison's assertion that the independence of the regulator is critical. Where U.S. Commissioners are appointed by the President according to political affiliation, the South African process does not depend upon political affiliation.