According to the provisions of ANRC’s President Decision no.1074/2004 on the implementation of universal service in the electronic communications sector, all the families whose average monthly income per family member does not exceed ROL 2,460,000 have the possibility to require the universal service providers a subsidy for the service of access to the public telephone network at a fixed point. As well, the respective families have the right to benefit from a series of facilities granted, should they not pay the telephone bill, which shall be specified in the agreements concluded with the universal service providers.
Thus, according to the provisions of the above mentioned Decision, the interest, increases or penalties charged for delaying the payment of the amounts due by the subscriber shall not exceed 0.15% of the respective amount, per day of delay. As well, the disconnection from the public telephone network shall not be enforced sooner than 90 days from the date of suspending the service provision. During the whole period when the service is suspended, the subscriber will be able to initiate or receive cost-free calls and will not owe any tariffs to the universal service provider. Subsequently, the service shall be resumed cost-free, upon the subscriber’s payment of the invoice triggering the suspension, including instalments, increases or the respective penalties.
In order to ensure the access of disadvantaged families (which, given the low income, require additional protection) to the services provided through the public telephone network at a fixed point, ANRC assigned ex officio the following universal service providers:
| No. | Company assigned as universal service provider |
| 1. | S.C. „ADISAM TELECOM” – S.A. |
| 2. | S.C. „ASTRAL TELECOM” – S.A. |
| 3. | S.C. „INES GROUP” – S.R.L. |
| 4. | S.C. „INTERSAT” – S.R.L. |
| 5. | S.C. „MAGIC TELECOM” – S.R.L. |
| 6. | S.C. „MEDIA SAT” – S.R.L. |
| 7. | S.C. „NET – CONNECT INTERNET” – S.R.L. |
| 8. | S.C. „NEVI CONS” – S.R.L. |
| 9. | S.C. „ROMTELECOM” – S.A. |
| 10. | S.C. „TELCOR COMMUNICATIONS” – S.R.L |
The designation of these companies as universal service providers in the electronic communications sector is in force until December 31, 2004.
In order to benefit from the subsidies and facilities granted, should the subscribers not pay the telephone bill, the families fulfilling the above mentioned conditions have to submit a standard form. The standard form shall be made available to the applicants by the company designated as a universal service provider.