288Universal service obligation

##### 288 Universal service obligation (1) The universal service obligation is the obligation: (a) to ensure that the standard telephone service is reasonably accessible to all people in Australia on an equitable basis, wherever they reside or carry on business; and (b) to supply the standard telephone service to people in Australia; and (c) to ensure that payphones are reasonably accessible to all people in Australia on an equitable basis, wherever they reside or carry on business; and (d) to supply, install and maintain payphones in Australia. (2) The Minister may determine that it is part of the universal service obligation to supply, install and maintain payphones at specified locations in Australia. (3) A determination under subsection (2) must be made by notice published in the Gazette. (4) The regulations may prescribe, for the purposes of paragraph (1) (c), what is, or is not, necessary to ensure that payphones are reasonably accessible as mentioned in that paragraph. (5) Neither of subsections (2) and (4) limits the generality of the other. (6) In this section: > Australia does not include the prescribed external Territories to which this Act extends.