Program to eliminate digital divide to get 6.9 bln rubles less in 2016 - minister
MOSCOW. March 23 (Interfax) - The program to eliminate the digital divide will get 6.9 billion rubles less than it was supposed to from the federal budget in 2016, Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov told reporters.
He said 14.8 billion rubles is supposed to be collected through the universal services fund, "but after going through the federal budget communication companies will get less."
"Targeted use of funds needs to be observed and maybe for this we should think about compartmentalizing the universal services fund, which finances the program to eliminate the digital divide," Nikiforov said.
The shortfall in funding for this program is now being covered by national provider Rostelecom , which is continuing to work on the program in the absence of government funding, the minister said.
"The company has taken funding at interest from the National Welfare Fund. But Rostelecom will not last in such a regime for the whole ten years [of the program]," Nikiforov said.
"We expect to balance the approach to spending targeted funds in the government," Nikiforov said.