Goodbye fax machines: Ofcom ends responsibility for providers.

Ofcom has confirmed that telecoms providers will no longer be required to offer fax services to customers. Under the Universal Service Obligation (USO), BT and KCOM (in the Hull area only) must provide affordable phone services. It used to include fax machines, but not anymore.

The USO was last changed in 2003 and fax machines were more popular then so it made sense for them to be covered by the USO. Now, hardly anyone is using them but it is costing BT and KCOM money to offer these services. by the remove Depending on the need, these providers may be able to lower costs for consumers.

Nevin reported the issue in November when Ofcom proposed rule changes, but the regulator has now confirmed the plans. If you still use a fax machine, Ofcom says the service won’t disappear overnight but you should really find an alternative way to relay documents such as email.

For young readers who have never used fax machines and aren’t sure how they work, they basically allow the sender to scan a paper document, with an image of the phone line. will be sent to another telephone number, and then the document will be printed. On another sheet of paper on the receiver’s fax machine. Now, you can simply take a digital copy of a document and send it as an email attachment.