 rulebook. The move comes amid diminishing use of fax machines, which were a common sight in offices in the 1980s and 90s, but are now rarely used after being replaced by email. Fax machines now only tend to be used by some NHS Trusts for medical records and by law firms and football agents for sharing legal documents. In August, it was reported that more than 800 fax machines were still being used by the NHS, nearly four years after the Government vowed to phase them out. Ofcom said: 'Currently, our telephone universal service obligation, which ensures that a minimum set of phone services are available at an affordable price to people across the UK, includes fax. 'However, the technology has become increasingly outdated and the phone network that is used to deliver messages is also being upgraded. Once this is completed, fax services can no longer be guaranteed to work in the same way. 'As a result, we're proposing changes to the rules that will mean telecom providers will no longer be required to provide fax services under the universal service obligation. There is more information about the changes on our news centre.' Ofcom's USO rulebook requires two designated telecom providers – BT and KCOM – to provide universal service in the UK and was introduced to ensure phone services are available to people across Britain at an affordable price. However, the current set of USO rules, which require BT and KCOM to provide fax services, were established in 2003 when fax machines were far more prevalent and the use of email and instant messaging was not widespread. Ofcom added: 'Almost 20 years later, and the telecoms landscape has changed. Not only are alternatives to){kind=link}
BT will no longer be legally required to provide connections
Fax machines are finally set to disappear after the telecoms regulator agreed to drop a legal requirement for BT to provide connections.
Ofcom has proposed rule changes that mean BT and Hull telecoms operator KCOM will no longer be required to provide fax services under its universal service obligation (USO) rulebook.
The move comes amid diminishing use of fax machines, which were a common sight in offices in the 1980s and 90s, but are now rarely used after being replaced by email.
Fax machines now only tend to be used by some NHS Trusts for medical records and by law firms and football agents for sharing legal documents.