| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 廣播電視學研究所 === 99 === With the advent of information society, people become eager for the greatest degree of bandwidth and highest transmission rate on the Internet. Obviously since narrow bandwidth can neither meet the service demands of the masses, nor transmit all data efficiently, broadband has taken on ever greater importance. When implementing policies in regard to broadband infrastructure and access, many countries start to pay their attention again to the role and function of universal service and the feasibility of promoting universal broadband access by universal service mechanism. Starting in 2003, OECD has debated the preconditions for widening the scope of universal service obligation to include broadband. The EU also began in 2005 the formal public consultation to discuss the possibility of revising Universal Service Directive to include broadband as part of universal service obligation.
However, redefinition of the scope of universal service to include broadband now faces many challenges. Among them, whether broadband is an essential telecommunications service necessary for information society has become the most crucial issue. Therefore, this study aims to explore the role of universal service in policies of promoting broadband infrastructure and access, as well as current approaches to accelerate implementation of universal broadband access in different countries. Relevant issues include determination of data transmission rate, involvement of government and service providers, sources of funding, among other issues yet to be resolved.
By comparison of the approaches among foreign governments with that of Taiwan, this study suggests the following: (1) The Government should include the goal of universal broadband access into its “Digital Convergence Development Plan,” providing every household in Taiwan access to basic broadband service by 2012. (2) NICI should take charge of coordinating resources among Governmental Departments so as to make effective use of all resources. (3) The Government and telecommunications operators should cooperate closely and strive to deliver broadband universal service. (4) Both wireline and wireless technologies should be fully utilized. (5) The role of public funding for this goal should be highly considered.
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