The company's Universal Service Obligation currently prevents this.

BBC: Scotland

It also says that its expensive universal service obligation, under which a letter costs the same no matter where it originates or is to be delivered, is a precious public good that should not be eroded.

ECONOMIST: The post

Separately, Mr Crozier has argued that the Royal Mail's universal service obligation - under which it is required to charge a single price to deliver letters anywhere in the UK - should be relaxed in order to help it compete in the deregulated market.

BBC: NEWS | Business | Royal Mail braced for change

Other advanced societies long ago recognized an obligation to provide universal health-care guarantees.

WSJ: Jenkins: The 5th Avenue to Serfdom

When it comes to voice services, the regulatory obligation that is now under scrutiny is the duty to provide universal telephone service over the old copper network.

FORBES: It's Time to Modernize Communications Policy