Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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8. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 601 of 8 June 2016, if he has had discussions with ComReg regarding the application of a universal service obligation on broadband telecommunications providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21511/16]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I have previously raised the possible application of a universal service obligation on telecommunications companies to provide broadband. I am concerned that rural, thinly-populated and isolated communities will not get the service they need and that companies will cherry-pick the populated areas. As such, an obligation should be placed on them to provide a universal broadband service throughout the country.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. Currently, there is no universal service obligation, USO, in respect of high-speed broadband provision. The USO in place relates solely to voice telephony and functional Internet access to a level of 28.8 kbps and is provided for under the EU regulatory framework governing telecoms. The introduction of a USO would give a legal right to individuals to request a broadband connection from a provider at a minimum speed that would have to be defined. The USO provisions in respect of voice telephony have ensured voice services are available nationwide. Where high-speed broadband networks are available, a USO could provide a useful tool to ensure all premises within a network area would have a connection.

While the current EU regulatory framework only provides for a basic broadband USO, the review of the regulatory framework which is due to commence later this year will give member states an opportunity to include a high-speed broadband USO as part of any new framework. I have already raised this issue with my ministerial colleagues at the Council of Ministers. The national broadband plan, NBP, intervention will effectively act as a USO by ensuring every home, school and business in the intervention area is capable of having an affordable high-speed broadband connection for the entire period of the contract.

The question of a USO in rural areas may arise when the 25-year contract expires but not until then. This could provide a useful regulatory vehicle so as to ensure affordable services continue to be provided for all consumers in the area. Effective regulation such as the introduction of a USO can deal with many of the concerns that may arise in the coming years and on the expiry of any contract awarded by the State. My officials and I are also discussing with ComReg the possibility of introducing a broadband USO as a future-proofing measure so as to ensure no premises will be left without a service in areas not covered by the NBP intervention.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response and indicating that he will provide for a USO. I hope his departmental officials, in their discussions with ComReg, will stress the urgency of this matter. The Minister has mentioned that he has raised it with his colleagues at the Council of Communications Ministers. I hope progress will be made more quickly in this instance than in the case of roaming charges. I had exchanges with the Minister's predecessors a number of years ago on the prolonged time it was taking for the roaming charges decision to be implemented. The target date was the middle of 2014, but it was postponed. I stress the urgency of ensuring the regulatory framework is put in place so as to ensure a USO will be placed on telecoms companies. Whatever must be done at EU level should be progressed rapidly. Unfortunately, we are all aware that issues can be dragged out at European level for a long time before decisions are reached.

As the Minister well knows and as he will see from the other questions I have submitted for answer today, in the counties of Cavan and Monaghan there is an inadequate broadband telecommunications infrastructure. This is hurting farming, businesses and households.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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To deal with the Deputy's specific concerns about the USO, we have 26 years to get this right and neither he nor I will need to worry about the issues he has raised. It is my intention to have matters set in train long before then. The USO will not affect 96% of the country, geographically, for 26 years. In the intervening period the NBP will effectively provide for a USO. It is our determination to ensure every premises outside the blue areas which are mainly urban will have direct access to high-speed broadband within the next five years. The issue will arise in the shorter term in urban, or blue, areas. Even within a couple of miles of where we are standing, individual homes and premises are unable to secure a high-speed broadband connection. We hope that in providing for a USO we will deal with that issue in the short term, but it will not arise for the people of Cavan and Monaghan until the contract under the NBP expires. It is my determination and that of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to ensure premises in Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Galway and everywhere else will have a high-speed broadband within that period.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I stress the need for the broadband plan to be rolled out as rapidly as possible in areas such as mine. It is drumlin country in which there is poor mobile phone coverage. The Minister mentioned that there was a USO in respect of voice telephony. I presume that this includes mobile telephony.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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No.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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It is not included. Although I am broadening the question, people nowadays remove landlines from their homes because of the costs involved and their daily business is transacted on mobile phones. Will the Minister consider trying to ensure telecoms companies which generate significant revenues from their mobile phone services will provide an adequate service? Regardless of where I travel in my area along the Border, the coverage is dreadful and mobile companies have refused to make the necessary extra investment. I recently read a report about eir planning on investing, but a dramatic upgrade of the mobile telephony infrastructure is urgently needed.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Deputy is right about mobile telephony. There is no plan to introduce a USO in respect of mobile telephony. If we have one in respect of broadband and fixed line services, it will address the issue for every business. Part of the problem in respect of mobile telephony is obtaining planning permission. In the Deputy's county of Cavan the development contribution in the case of a mobile phone mast is €15,000. In County Roscommon there is none.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Companies could co-locate more effectively.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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In County Monaghan the contribution is €10,000 and in Galway, €20,000. There are major variations in the granting of planning permission. In fairness, approximately 86% of applications in County Cavan are granted initially, but let us consider the costs involved in terms of site rental; development contributions; in building the mast; linking with fibre services and servicing. These considerations are weighed.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Co-location has not been maximised by the companies involved.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The task force will examine that and other issues in the short term.