Universal service in a participatory democracy: A perspective from Australia

This article places universal service policy in telecommunications in Austr alia in an historical context, Given the dynamic growth in information tech nologies, universal service should be reconceptualized within a knowledge-b ased discourse critically linked to considerations for deepening participat ory democracy. As a consequence of the discussion this article recommends t hat funding universal service obligations in telecommunications be based on the preferred notion of a maximally open democratic debate. The universal service obligation in telecommunications should be funded from consolidated revenue with its parameters set by democratic debate.