Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a submission regarding telephone rental (details supplied) the actions planned as a result of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8509/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In June 2012 the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) extended until June 2014, a universal service obligation (USO) addressed to Eircom, which among other things, requires that line rental for basic fixed line telephone services is available to end users at a standard geographically averaged price across the country. There are no proposals to amend this obligation. Moreover, following public comments suggesting that Eircom had made an application to ComReg to reduce the line rental charge to retail customers in cities and towns which, if granted, would result in a two-tier line rental charging structure contrary to its USO, Eircom contacted my Department to confirm it fully respects its obligation to operate a standard geographically averaged retail line rental charge and that it has made no contrary submission to ComReg.