Lok Sabha Question No. 2625 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: USOF
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SAKUNTALA LAGURI, CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE, RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY**

**DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2625**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 05** **TH** **AUGUST, 2015**

**USOF**

**†2625. SHRIMATI SAKUNTALA LAGURI:**

**SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:**

**SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:**

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) 	the details of complaints received regarding utilisation of Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) by the Telecom companies during the last three years and the current year and the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(b) 	whether instead of depositing the share of Universal Service Obligation Fund in a separate fund, it is received as licence fee wherein the prescribed amount is understated/reported;

(c) 	the reaction of the Government thereto and the monitoring mechanism put in place or proposes to be put in place;

(d) 	whether private telecom operators are delaying launch of their mobile services under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) and are not installing mobile towers in rural areas; and

(e) 	if so, the details thereof, operator-wise, and action including penal action taken against erring operators, operator wise?

ANSWER

**THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY**

**(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)**

(a)		Regarding utilization of Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) by the Telecom companies, the details of complaints received during the last three years and current year and the action taken by the Govt. in this regard is  as follows:

1. Complaint dated 11.07.2013 from Shri Sita Ram Sharma :-

The complaint regarding alleged procedural and financial irregularities in Rural Telephone Connections is already subject matter of investigation by Vigilance wing of DoT.

**Contd…2/-**

-2-

1. Complaint dated 22.07.2013 from Shri Anil Singh Shekhawat :-

The complaint was received in respect of Rural Telephone Connections provided in rural areas. However, the complaint was withdrawn by the complainant vide his letter dated 04.12.2013.

1. Complaint from Shri Dinesh Hissaria, Advocate Rajasthan High Court received in Secretary Office on 14.11.2013:-

The complaint regarding alleged misappropriation of USO Fund has already been replied vide this office letter dated 27.01.2014.

(b)		The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 lays down that “ *the sums of money received towards the Universal Service Obligation under section 4 shall first be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India, and the Central Government may, if Parliament by appropriation made by law in this behalf so provides, credit such proceeds to the fund from time to time for being utilised exclusively for meeting the Universal Service Obligation”.*

The quantum of revenue share received as licence fees depends upon the percentage of adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) as defined in Licence Agreements. An apportionment of licence fee is made by classifying 5% of adjusted Gross Revenue as Universal Access Levy and remaining is effected as license fee. Universal Access Levy and Licence Fee are classified under different account heads by the Controller of Communication Accounts offices.

(c)		Statement of Revenue and Licence fee is submitted by the Telecom Service Providers duly certified along with an affidavit in Controller of Communication Accounts (CCA) offices on a quarterly basis. These statements are being  monitored at Department of Telecom, Headquarters.

(d)& (e)		Presently no mobile service is being provided by Private Telecom-operator(s), under USOF scheme.

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