ThePhoneCompany

At their best, telecommunications services and technologies have helped to bring people closer together, to speed discovery and increase understanding. They have spawned innovations in information systems and entertainment, not to mention business and finance. They have have reduced the need for physical travel, and the danger and environmental costs that it carries.

However, the idea of Universal Service -- that anyone, regardless of income, location, or physical capability, should have a full range of services available to them at reasonable cost -- has fallen out of favor among telephone services and policymakers alike. Lip service and weak incentives have replaced mandates. Infrastructu