China May Establish Broadband Universal Service Fund
Economic Information Daily, 3/28/13
Wu Hequan, director of the Broadband China strategic research expert working group and fellow of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said recently that a draft of the Broadband China Strategic Plan has been completed. The draft is more of a framework document, Wu said, noting that it does not touch upon details such as sources for network construction costs or subsidy plans. More detailed plans in these areas will be released subsequently, as bundled policies.
The majority of experts and industry insiders reportedly support plans to establish a "broadband universal service fund" containing funds invested by both the central government and industry interest groups, to be used to subsidize operators in different regions and at different stages of development. In accordance with the state of industry and social development in China, Wu said, the fund will likely subsidize at least 1/3 of construction costs.
Editor's Note: For more background on this topic, please see "Government Subsidies Missing from Broadband China Plan" MD 2/06/13 issue.
Keywords: universal service fund government policy Wu Hequan Chinese Academy of Engineering broadband telecom network construction Broadband China government subsidy
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