The Universal Service Fund (USF) in Jamaica was established in 2005 to manage the universal service levy collected from telecommunications companies and use the funds to facilitate universal access to broadband internet across Jamaica. Some of USF's core projects include establishing community internet access points, upgrading schools, libraries, and post offices with broadband connectivity. As of November 2012, USF had connected 67 schools, 28 libraries, and 37 post offices to its island-wide broadband network and established 98 community internet centers, with more projects ongoing or planned. USF aims to continue expanding broadband access across Jamaica through additional community centers, connectivity for health facilities, and other universal service initiatives.

1. ABRIDGED
PRESENTATION
Hugh O. Cross Chief Executive Officer
Universal Service Fund
JAMAICA
2012 November

2. Connectivity and Affordability
The Role of the Universal Service Fund.
USF.....Bridging the Information Gap.
Internet Access for Everyone
2nd Floor, PCJ Resource Centre, 36 Trafalgar Road, Kingston 10, Ph: 926-1727, Fx: 960-8981

3. ESTABLISHMENT
 Ministerial Order (2005 April 19)
 Cabinet Decision #18/05 (2005 May 16)
 Registered and incorporated as a limited liability
company under the Companies Act (2005 May 18)
 Began operations (2005 June 01)
 Transformed into a Statutory Body June 2012

4. MANDATE
To manage the Universal Funding
Regime and discharge the
Government’s obligation for universal
Internet services under the prevailing
statute

5. VISION
Our aspiration is to ensure that every
resident of Jamaica is provided with easy and
reliable access to the information superhighway
through the deployment of broadband services,
to facilitate the transformation of Jamaica into a
knowledge-based society and to stimulate
continuous improvement in the quality of life for
all.

6. MISSION
The mission of the company is to
facilitate the provision of universal
access to the information superhighway
by stimulating and accelerating the deployment of
broadband services island-wide. This will be
facilitated through the effective collection and
astute management of the universal service levy
and disbursing such funds in a transparent and
non-discriminatory manner to fund appropriate
projects.

7. CORE FUNCTIONS
 Collect the universal telecommunications services
obligations levy from telecommunications companies;
 Analyze projects of a universal services obligation
nature and seek approval to proceed;
 Manage the disbursement of funds for the
implementation of approved initiatives;
 Monitor implementation of projects;
 Manage and account for funds collected and
disbursed; and
 Invest surplus funds in gilt edged instruments.

8. TACTICAL OBJECTIVES
Ensure the provision of an island-wide broadband
network that allows public access to the information
super highway through Schools, Libraries and Post
Offices and other approved broad-based facilities;
auxiliary benefit to provide broadband capacity within
additional communities throughout the country;
Establish Community Multi-Media Access Points where
defined criteria have been met;
Identify, develop and recommend projects of a universal
access nature for approval;

9. Tactical Objectives (Cont’d.)
Provide funding for all approved projects;
Monitor all funded projects to ensure they are
executed according to plans;
Support scholarship in the area of information
knowledge leadership.
Support initiatives for increasing the per capita density
of personal computers within the country.

10. CORE PROJECTS
 Community Multi-Media
Access Points
 Broadband Network
 Post Offices
 Libraries
 Schools/e-Learning
NATIONAL
ECONOMY
EDUCATION
SOCIAL
NETWORKING
SERVICE
DELIVERY
COMMUNICATION
Business
N
A
TIO
N
A
L
EC
O
N
O
M
Y
INTERNETACCESS
W
ellbeing
Communication
Social
Networking
Education
ServiceDelivery

11. Completed Projects
 Upgrade of Libraries Island-Wide
 Upgrade of National Archival Library
 Upgrade of High Schools and Teachers’ Colleges
 Provision of 98 Community Internet Centres
 Upgrade of 3 Open Campuses for one University

12. Projects in Progress
 Island-Wide Broadband Network
(67 Schools, 28 Libraries, and 37 Post Offices
connected to date)
 58 additional Community Internet Centres
 118 Community Internet Centres being evaluated
 Upgrading of 7 additional Open University Campuses
 Deploying campus-wide WiFi at one main University
Campus
 Upgrading of the Caribbean Maritime Institute

13. Distribution of Projects Across Jamaica
as at November 12, 2012
Community Access Points

14.  Islandwide LAN/WAN Broadband Network
Project to being deployed through two
telecommunications providers (LIME and FLOW)
• The island was divided
into 6 zones.
• To enhance competition
split award made to:
LIME – Zones 1,5 & 6
FLOW – Zones 2,3, & 4
Island-Wide Broadband Network
ISLAND
ISLAND OF JAMAICA

15. Broadband Network (Cont’d.)
Zone Name Zone Coverage
Kingston 1 Kingston, ST Andrew, Western St. Thomas
Port Antonio 2 Eastern St Thomas, Portland, Eastern & South Eastern St. Mary
Browns Town 3 Western & Central St Mary, St. Ann, Trelawny
Montego Bay 4 St James, Hanover, Westmoreleand
Mandeville 5 St. Elizabeth, Manchester, North Clarendon
Old Harbour 6 Clarendon, St Catherine
Zone Library Post Office School Grand Total
1 3 18 44 65
2 5 12 15 32
3 8 11 16 35
4 10 13 20 43
5 10 15 22 47
6 5 10 38 53
Grand Total 41 79 155 275

16. Broadband Network (Cont’d.)
Broadband Network
Management
 Service providers are be
charged with managing
and monitoring their
network segment
 Overall network
oversight and
responsibility
Broadband
Connectivity
 100 mbit/sec on Backbone
 12mb/sec at client
 Ability to handle rich text
 Assume 100 user node
 Always on 24/7 Internet
access

17. Broadband Network (Cont’d.)
Distribution of Sites Connected Across Jamaica
as at November 12, 2012

18. New Project Considerations
Establish 3 Model Internet Centres
Further support to upgrade tertiary institutions
Establish 75 Community Internet Centres per year
A continuation of the post office upgrade project
The purchase of a purpose built mobile cyber library
for the Jamaica Library Service
Continuation of library upgrades
Providing broadband connectivity for hospitals and
health centres island-wide (334)

19. New Project Considerations (Cont’d.)
Providing requisite upgrades and broadband
connectivity to other governmental organization (e.g.
Security Forces, Judiciary)
Other Universal Service Obligation (USO) projects
which would be conceptualized and proposed for
universal service funding during 2013/2014.
Funding the procurement of computers through
concessionary loans to select applicants
Upgrade of primary schools and expanding the
facilities at high schools