Metrics to improve universal-service fund disbursements

PurposeMany governments wishing to provide telecommunication services to those who are unconnected have chosen the Universal Service Fund (USF) as the principal policy instrument. However, there is evidence that monies directly or indirectly collected from users of telecommunication services are lying unspent in these funds. The purpose of this paper is to propose metrics for measuring the disbursement efficacy of funds across time and across countries as an essential element of improving the performance of the universal service funds. Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes two metrics, the total disbursement rate (TDR) and the year-on-year disbursement rate (YDR), which can be used to assess the disbursement efficacy of universal service programs. It illustrates the value of the metrics by applying them to the USFs of India, Malaysia and Pakistan. FindingsA move to push out funds has been observed in India in recent years. Pakistan had not reached the same momentum up to mid-2014. An improvement in Malaysia’s disbursement efficacy was observed until 2013, with nearly all of the funds collected in the previous year being disbursed. A significant proportion of the funds collected are lying unspent in the three USFs, nevertheless. Originality/valueThe proposed metrics are robust, objective and parsimonious indicators that allow comparison over time and across countries. They will enable productive, evidence-based conversations that will hold fund administrators accountable and will inform the design and implementation of more effective policy mechanisms.

Postal Universal Service Fund Collection Study from the Express Industry in the Information Age

The express industry has developed rapidly as e-commerce is becoming to be more and more popular. The contradiction between express delivery industry and postal universal service obligation is inevitable. A collection standard of universal service fund currently has a larger dispute. This article constructs a stackelberg game model based on the dominant operator and competitive postal operator through the theoretical analysis with the postal and courier companies "asymmetric" competition, and the rationality of the fund is discussed according to the express delivery business to impose and standard, etc. Using the method of reverse solving equilibrium results, it shows that the scheme has certain feasibility, but levy must be relevant conditions.