Universal Service Funds Not being Spent

UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUNDS NOT BEING SPENT
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Sumner Lemon, IDG News Service]
The GSM Association (GSMA), an industry group comprised of mobile operators, estimated that governments in 15 countries have collected $6 billion for their universal service funds, including $2 billion that came from levies on mobile operators. Of this amount, governments have spent $1.6 billion, leaving billions untouched. "The unspent $4.4 billion should be put back in the industry as soon as possible," Tom Phillips, government and regulatory affairs officer at the GSMA, said at the 3GSM World Congress Asia conference in Singapore. Phillips noted that India and Malaysia together hold $2 billion in levies. GSMA wants to see the funds done away with over the long term. "Universal service funds may have a short-term tactical benefit, but there's often no justification for universal service funds to exist, especially in markets that are relatively developed," Phillips said.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/10/17/HNuniversalservicefunds_1.html?SECURITY