Universal Service Fund
“Ensuring Standards Through Regulation.”
~National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission
Open Hours
Monday to Friday: 8:00am~4:30pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Call Us
Tel: 758.458.2035 / 452.6871
Mobile: 758.284.2035
Visit Us
Bois D’Orange
Gros Islet, St. Lucia
Universal Service Fund
The Fund was established for the promotion of Universal Service. According to the Telecommunications Act 2000, Universal Service includes the provision of:
- Public voice telephony;
- internet access;
- telecommunications services to schools, health institutions and similar institutions and the physically challenged;
- or other services by which people access efficient, affordable and modern telecommunications.
Objective of the Fund
As specified by the Act, the source of funding of the Universal Service Fund comes from Telecommunication Providers. The Universal Service Fund Office under the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC), is responsible for its management. The Fund supports the expansion of telecommunications services particularly to the underserved who currently do not have sufficient access and provides telecommunications services which are readily accessible and affordable. Support is provided for the introduction and expansion of telecommunications services to schools, health facilities and other organizations serving public needs as well as for the promotion of technological innovation in the telecommunications sector.
What has the NTRC’s USF Office accomplished?
ONGOING PROJECTS
Boys Training Centre and environs
Closure May 2024
Project: Boys Training Centre and environs (project closure – May 2024)
National Skills Development Centre
Closure May 2024
Project: National Skills Development Centre
Upton Garden Girls Centre
Closure February 2025
Project: Upton Garden Girls Centre
The Castries South East Communities Wi-Fi Project
Closure January 2026
Project: The Castries South East Communities Wi-Fi Project
National Council for Persons with Disabilities
Closure September 2026
Project: National Council for Persons with Disabilities
CLOSED PROJECTS
Soufriere Community Access Centre
November 2013-October 2018
Project: Provision of equipment and related services for establishing internet access at the centre
Payphones in Rural Communities and Public Institutions
May 2014- April 2019
Project: Project Installation of payphones in rural communities and public institutions
Babonneau Library Project
December 2014 – November 2019
Project: Internet access and web-enabled training facility for the library
Ciceron Secondary School Project
March 2015 – February 2020
Project: Supply of equipment and related services for the establishment of internet access at the school
Libraries and Community Access Centres Project
December 2015- November 2020
Project: Supply and installation of equipment and related services for establishing internet access at libraries and community access centres across St. Lucia
Differently Abled Project
October 2016 – September 2021
Project: Improving internet access for the differently abled throughout St. Lucia (6) Institutions
The Holy Family Children’s Home Project
June 2016- May 2021
Project: Supply and installation of broadband equipment and related services for the establishment of internet access at the home
Sir Arthur Lewis Community College – Southern Campus Project
September 2016- August 2021
Project: Supply and installation of broadband equipment and related services for the college
COVID-19 Response- Students Lernbook/E-book and MiFi Initiative
Closure As Of 2021
Project: COVID-19 Response- Students Lernbook/E-book and MiFi Initiative (project closure as of 2021)
Technological Inovations
- Girls in ICT 2016
- Girls in ICT 2017
- Girls in ICT 2018
- Summer TECH 2018
- Girls in ICT 2019
- Summer TECH 2019
- Girls in ICT 2020
- Summer Tech 2021
- Girls in ICT Day 2022
- Summer Tech 2022
April 28 2016
Opportunities and Careers in ICT & Internet Safety and Security
April 26 and 28 2017
App-building Workshop, App-lauding the Girls
April 26 2018
Graphic Design Workshop: Fundamentals of Graphic Design
July 23 2018 – August 25 2018
Summer Tech Training Program
April 25 & 26 2019
Robotics Workshop
July 22 2019- August 28 2019
Coding for Robotics
May 7 2020
Digital Marketing Webinar
July 12 2021- July 30 2021
April 28th and 29th 2022
Access, Safety and Security
July 11 2022 – August 19 2022
Access, Safety and Security
All projects are subsidized by the NTRC Universal Service Fund (USF), for a period of five (5) years. Currently, the USFO is in the process of reinstating some of its closed projects for a one-year period. We also have a new initiative, the Bus Shelter Project, in the works.
The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, under its Universal Service mandate is requesting project proposals from any legal entity, group or person, in keeping with the stipulated requirements. All Project proposals are to be submitted on the approved application form which may be obtained from the office of the Commission or on the Commission’s website at https://www.ntrcslu.lc/. To submit Project Proposals and for further information, the Commission’s Universal Service Fund Office can be contacted as listed below:
The Universal Service Fund Administrator
Telephone Number: (1758) 458-2035 or (1758) 452-6871
Email address: ntrc@ntrcslu.lc / ntrc_slu@candw.lc and copied to sjones@ntrcslu.lc / sjones@ectel.int and ncassius@ntrcslu.lc / ncassius@ectel.int
