Telecommunication improvements in any country are dependent on national telecom regulatory policies. Telecom costs and service levels are driven by the regulatory environment, and rural communities in particular, where low population densities discourage telecom upgrades, will remain underserved unless there is a commitment at the policy level to extend universal access. The process of determining measurable targets for universal access is an important role for regulators. In order for universal access targets to accurately reflect the needs of rural and remote people, regulators must engage rural and remote stakeholders in meaningful dialogue to establish jointly agreed upon targets.
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