Another response to OFTEL (31 October 1999) We spent a long time debating the ins and outs of OFTEL's latest consultation document on their review of the Universal Service Obligation. For those not aware, USO is a bundle of conditions BT and Kingston Communications have to meet as part of their telecommunications licences. There was a broad group of viewpoints to be accommodated in our reply. We think we've managed to make all the relevant points we and those who responded to our recent appeal for opinion wanted to make. The full text of our response is available, but our main recommendations are: The low-usage scheme should be at least complemented, if not replaced, by a low-income scheme; The low-income scheme should offer the option of an unmetered tariff for local calls, or at least include an extensive call allowance. As with subsidised rent and travel, this is necessary to make effective use of such a scheme; For low-income users, the differential between peak and off-peak usage charging should be removed; OFTEL should aim for a top-sliced USO more suited to the open future of the local loop as envisaged in its Access to Bandwidth: Proposals for Action' preliminary determination; We support OFTEL's approach to the question of common standards of USO provision for all EU member states. Such standards should be minimum, not sufficient.