1. Introduction

The establishment, management and exploration of postal services on the national territory, as well as international services with origin or destination on the national territory (Law no. 102/99, of 26/07^{1https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=55129}), and their outcome regime are the general basis to assure the satisfaction of the postal services needs of the population, the public and private authorities of the various economic activities, by means of adequate conditions for development and diversity of services of this nature (no.1 of article 2).

Following the approval of the universal postal services concession, to be celebrated with CCT - Correios de Portugal, S.A. (Decree-Law no. 448/99, of 04/11^{2https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=55130}) the State and CTT signed in 01/09/00 the Concession Contract of Universal Postal Service^{3https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=55131} (further ahead designated Concession Contract), in which, the exact conditions of the universal postal services to be rendered were detailed. According to this document, the objectives of development of public postal network and objectives of minimum services offering, technical characteristics and advanced resources shall be granted in a agreement established between ICP - Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM) and CTT.

On 07/05/01, the Decree-Law no. 150/01^{4https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=55132} has been approved, which establishes the regimen of access and practise of activity for competing^{5https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=55133} postal services providers and paving way to gradual and controlled liberalization of postal services.

This auditions objectives is to identify opinions and worries of citizens and interested parties as far as the objectives of development of public postal network and the objectives of minimum services offering, technical characteristics and advanced resources are concerned in the scope of granted services, namely, in the following areas:

- Available access to public postal network;

- Available access to granted postal services;

For this purpose, information and commentary is requested, namely, to the following authorities:

- Consumer Associations;

- Associations representing Populations with Special Needs;

- Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses (Portuguese City Council National Association);

- Associação Nacional de Freguesias  (Parish National Association);

- Corporate Associations;

- Postal Services Providers.

The results of this audition will help ANACOM to implement the duties imposed by the diplomas quoted above.

The document which is presented now, begins with a characterization of the granted postal services provided by CTT, namely concerning the applicable regulation, quality, utilization and penetration of service, indicators of public postal network accessibility and provided services, prices and financial results (Chapter 2). International Comparisons are presented as well.

On Chapter 3, ANACOM would like to get answers to 4 questions.

Gratefully send the contributions up to 30 April 2003. Whenever possible, send the contributions through electronic mail to redepp@anacom.ptmailto:redepp@anacom.pt, with no prejudice to traditional ways, so that the answers are made available to the general public at ANACOM?s internet site. For this effect, elements considered to be confidential should be clearly identified.

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1 _{Law no. 102/99, of 26 of Julyhttps://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=17279}
2 _{Decree-Law no. 448/99, of 4 of Novemberhttps://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=17286}
3 _{Concession contract signed on 1.9.2000https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=17282}
4 _{Decree-Law no. 150/2001, of 7 of Mayhttps://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=17289}