Rethinking universal service: Citizenship, consumption norms, and the telephone

One of the reasons the proponents of expanded universal service have not ma de much headway is that they have not been able to provide a coherent justi fication for the major resource and policy commitments it requires. The lac k of consensus on the very meaning of the term "universal service" has adde d to the confusion. This article argues that it is critically important to articulate a clear justification for universal service before me discuss wh at it should include and how it should be funded, the two main preoccupatio ns of the current debate. It answers the "why" question by drawing on the l iterature on consumption norms and citizenship rights and thereby provides a cogent justification for universal service. A clear articulation of the r ationale for universal service should reduce some of the confusion in the c urrent debate and bring greater clarity to the ongoing debate on this impor tant public policy issue.