As outlined in the Electronic Communications Networks and Services (General) Regulation, the designated undertaking providing universal services has the right to seek to receive funds for the net costs it believes to have incurred to provide part or all of the universal services. In November 2015, the MCA received an application for the USO funding for the net costs claimed to have been incurred by GO plc during the financial year 2014. Following an audit carried out by EY, it emerged that GO plc has suffered an element of unfair burden for providing specified universal services namely; public payphones; social tariffs; and directory enquiry services. After taking into account the intangible benefits for providing universal services, the total net costs amounts to €33,542.

 

In November 2017, the MCA published a proposed decision for consultation entitled ''Review of GO plc's application for funding of the net cost claimed to have been incurred to provide universal service obligations during 2014'' and the feedback received is being included in this Decision.
 
The allocation of the source of funding to GO plc's USO claim for the financial year 2014 is being addressed in a separate consultation document earmarked for publishing following the publication of this decision.

 

View Decision on GO's Application for USO funding claim 2014.