USO needs to be independent and autonomous

The Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) administration has told the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that it is keen to keep the USO fund outside the purview of the ministry of communications as a re-organised and an independent body.

USOF has also told DoT that the new body may be headed by a secretary-level officer and should be given complete financial autonomy.

Earlier, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had told the Government that the USOF should be modelled on the lines of the National Highways Authority of India. However, the proposal may not find favour with the DoT top officials, according to reports.