Subscribers and new operators will have to help cover the costs of basic telecommunications services in the European Community as greater liberalisation leads to lower long-distance charges, the European Commission said yesterday in adopting a report proposing ways for Community – Union? – countries to implement the providing of universal service to all users at an affordable price: under the proposed rebalancing as long-distance rates come down, there should be greater direct contributions from subscribers, access charges paid by new operators and service providers and Community funds for peripheral regions; since liberalisation of the UK market in 1984, despite a major rebalancing, local call charges have also declined in real terms.