This presentation is the first session of a two-day workshop in Cameroon on the Management of Universal Access Funds. It provides the background of the development of USAFs.

1. Management of Universal Access Funds for Telecommunications Regulatory Board of Cameroon Module One: The Historical Context of the Development of USAFs 7 – 9 February 2011

2. Global Context As the telecommunications sector made rapid progress and as evidence became increasingly clear of its key role in socio-economic development, so did the belief that everyone should have access to communication. This formulated into a right to access, just as everyone has a right to the access of water or electricity.

5. Progression from Universal Access to Universal Service

6. Global Status of play

18. Selected African USAFs Country Fund Fund Administrator/ Management Year Established South Africa Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa USAASA Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa USAASA 1996 Uganda Rural Communications Development Fund RCDF Uganda Communications Commission UCC 2001 Nigeria Universal Service Provision Fund USPF Universal Service Provision Fund 2003 Ghana Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications GIFEC GIFTEC Board of Trustees (independent agency) 2005