The Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003

Article 3

SCHEDULE U.K.

1.—(1) At least one designated universal service provider shall meet all reasonable requests by end-users for connection at a fixed location to the [F1 public electronic communications network] and for access to publicly available telephone services [F2 over that communications network]. U.K.

(2) The connection referred to in sub-paragraph (1) shall be capable of allowing end-users to make and receive local, national and international telephone calls F3 ....

(3) Access to a publicly available telephone service in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) shall continue to be provided in the event of non-payment of bills for the use of that service, unless the provider of the service has first taken adequate measures regarding interruption to, or disconnection of the service.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. para. 1(1) substituted (26.5.2011) by The Electronic Communications (Universal Service) (Amendment) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1209), arts. 1(1), 5(a)(i)

F2 Words in Sch. para. 1(1) substituted (26.5.2011) by The Electronic Communications (Universal Service) (Amendment) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1209), arts. 1(1), 5(a)(ii)

F3 Words in Sch. para. 1(2) omitted (1.10.2022) by virtue of The Electronic Communications (Universal Service) (Amendment) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/937), arts. 1(1), 2(3)

2.—(1) At least one comprehensive directory shall be made available to end-users in a form approved by OFCOM, whether printed or electronic, or both, and it shall be updated at least once a year. U.K.

(2) This directory shall comprise, subject to the provisions of the [F4 Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003], the details of all subscribers of publicly available telephone services and their telephone numbers, including fixed and mobile telephone numbers.

Textual Amendments

F4 Words in Sch. para. 2(2) substituted (11.12.2003) by The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2426), regs. 1, 35(1)

3.—(1) At least one comprehensive telephone directory enquiry facility shall be made available to end-users, including users of public pay telephones. U.K.

(2) This facility shall comprise, subject to the provisions of the [F5 Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003], the details of all subscribers of publicly available telephone services and their telephone numbers, including fixed and mobile telephone numbers.

Textual Amendments

F5 Words in Sch. para. 3(2) substituted (11.12.2003) by The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2426), regs. 1, 35(1)

4.—(1) Public pay telephones [F6 or other public voice telephony access points] shall be provided to meet the reasonable needs of end-users in terms of geographical coverage, the number of telephones [F7 or other access points] and the quality of public electronic communication services. U.K.

(2) It shall be possible to make emergency calls from public pay telephones using the single European emergency call number “112” and the UK emergency call number “999”, free of charge and without the use of coins or cards.

Textual Amendments

F6 Words in Sch. para. 4(1) inserted (26.5.2011) by The Electronic Communications (Universal Service) (Amendment) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1209), arts. 1(1), 5(c)(i)

F7 Words in Sch. para. 4(1) inserted (26.5.2011) by The Electronic Communications (Universal Service) (Amendment) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1209), arts. 1(1), 5(c)(ii)

5.—(1) Facilities, methods of billing and methods of accepting payment for electronic communications services that enable subscribers to monitor and control their expenditure in relation to the use of those services shall be provided to subscribers of services provided by designated universal service providers. U.K.

F8 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F8 Sch. para. 5(2) omitted (21.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Communications and Wireless Telegraphy (Amendment) (European Electronic Communications Code and EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1419), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 1 (with reg. 6)

6.—(1) Special measures shall be taken to ensure access to and affordability of publicly available telephone services for end-users with a disability equivalent to those enjoyed by other end-users. U.K.

(2) The measures to be taken for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) shall include:

(a) provision of access to the directory information facilities provided for the purposes of paragraph 3 in a form appropriate to meet the needs of end-users with a disability who are unable to use a telephone directory in a form in which it is generally available to other end-users;

(b) provision of priority fault repair services to end-users with a disability as is necessary to ensure access to publicly available telephone services by such end-users;

(c) provision of, and the provision of access to, relay services for end-users with a disability where required to ensure access to publicly available telephone services by such end-users;

(d) methods of billing and methods of accepting payment for publicly available telephone services in an appropriate format for subscribers with a disability, including provision for such subscribers to nominate a third party to handle their billing issues; and

(e) accessibility and functionality of the public pay telephones to be provided for the purposes of paragraph 4 for use by end-users with a disability, including the adequate provision of textphone facilities.