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<p>The Universal Service Conditions set out by Ofcom require the two Universal Service
Providers (BT and KCOM in the Hull area) to take ‘reasonable steps... to raise awareness
of the potential availability of Broadband Services under these Conditions among members
of the public’. As of September 2020, BT had directly contacted 47,000 premises that
are eligible for the Universal Service Obligation.</p><p>In addition, Ofcom, who are
responsible for implementing the Universal Service Obligation, are taking their own
steps to publicise it through both their website and a localised, geo-targeted social
media campaign.</p><p>The Universal Service Obligation is technology neutral. It provides
a legal right to request a decent broadband connection delivering a minimum 10Mbps
download speed. It does not limit the technologies that can be used by the Universal
Service Provider to deliver the minimum specification or provide a legal right for
consumers to request an upgrade to a fibre connection. That said, the Universal Service
Providers have provided fibre connections under the Universal Service Obligation where
this is the most efficient technology solution.</p><p>In addition, the government
has a number of other programmes to help people upgrade to gigabit capable connections,
including the rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme for example. This is in addition to our
commitment to invest £5bn from April 2021 to bring gigabit coverage to the hardest
to reach areas as part of the UK Gigabit Programme.</p><p> </p>
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