Roundup: internet body opposes USF; tech-neutral routing regs approved; Vega gains spectrum; telecoms sales up 2.6%

The Internet Association of Ukraine (IAU) and the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists & Entrepreneurs (USPP) have sent an open letter to the President of Ukraine complaining of the ‘unacceptability’ of a draft law approved by the National Commission on Communications and Information Regulation (NKRZI or NCCR) which establishes a universal service fund (USF) for subsidising telephony and internet services in rural and remote areas via a 3.5% tax on telecoms service operators. As reported by BizLiga, the IAU and USPP argue in the first instance that the imposition of the USF is contrary to the President and the government’s strategy of reducing tax pressure. Secondly, they claim that the bill gives rise to scope for financial abuse, given the ‘vaguely defined’ concept of universal service and the issue of control over the payment of duty to two separate structures, the NCCR – which, under the draft will be the manager of the fund – and the state Revenue Service.

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OVETEL Roundup: internet body opposes USF; tech-neutral routing regs approved; Vega gains spectrum; telecoms sales up 2.6%