The free public WiFi bill which has been approved by Congress will not only make internet services available to all Filipinos, but will make sure that broadband services are faster and more efficient, its main proponent, Sen. Ralph Recto, said today.

The bill is now headed to President Duterte’s table for his signature after both houses of Congress ratified the reconciled version hammered out by representatives of each chamber.

Recto said the bill does not only mandate the mushrooming of free internet access in public places and offices nationwide, it also requires internet to be fast and reliable.

He said the proposed Free Internet Access in Public Places Act mandates upstream reforms in the telecoms sector, which would result in the better delivery of what is now acknowledged as the third utility after power and water.

“In this bill are provisions that will improve internet speed, better broadband services, slash the red tape that retards ICT growth,” Recto said.

“If we want a thousand Wi-Fi spots to bloom, we must cut the thicket of regulations choking its growth. This bill authorizes the declogging of administrative bottlenecks,” the senator explained.

He said the bill does away with “government permitting problems encountered by DICT contractors and telcos in putting up facilities.”

Under the approved bill, the DICT shall streamline the process for the application, renewal and release of permits, licenses and clearances needed for the construction of infrastructure or installation of equipment.

“Licenses and permits must be approved and released within seven days after submission of complete requirements and payments of the corresponding fees,” Recto said, citing one provision.

Recto said the bill also promotes fair competition and bars unfair business practices.

Under the bill, the DICT shall prohibit any unfair method of competition and exclusivity arrangements in favor of a single telecommunications entity, Recto explained.

“The DICT, in coordination with the National Telecommunications Commission, shall be allowed the free use of available and unassigned spectrum for the free public internet access program,” he said.

The excess capacity of private sector partners may be offered to deliver supplemental internet access service for a reasonable fee, Recto added.

The senator explained that to lower internet costs, “private service providers are encouraged to exchange data traffic at domestic internet protocol (IP) exchanges, which may be designated by the DICT.”

The bill requires the NTC to “provide minimum standards for quality of service, including but not limited to download speed, latency, packet loss, and jitter for public free internet service.”

Another provision states that “the minimum quality of service standards for free public internet access services shall not be lower than minimum quality of service standards provided for retail basic internet connectivity services offered to the public.”

Free WiFi hotspots will be installed in national and local government offices; public schools, including state universities and colleges; public hospitals and health centers; public parks, plazas, and libraries; and airports, seaports, and transport terminals.

It was Recto who, in 2014, moved that the Senate increase the budget allocated for the Free Public Wi-Fi Project of the DOST’s Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO), the precursor of the DICT.

Since then, three national budgets have sustained funding for what would become the Free National Wi-Fi Project.

By end of this year, it is projected that 13,024 sites covered by 18 Points of Presence in 1,489 towns and 145 will be up and running.

Overall, the project aims to roll out 23,631 sites by 2018, expanding it fourfold to 100,349 by 2026.

“Others may deride free public Wi-Fi hotspots as populist-driven conveniences. Sadly, those who embrace this falsehood have not been able to fully grasp the empowering potential of ICT,” Recto said.

“Because the only way to view free Wi-Fi hotspots, my friends, is to treat them for what they are – as a form of ‘liberation technology,’” he added.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• 13 MAR 2017:Recto: Free public Wi-Fi means faster internet for all Pinoys

• 13 MAR 2017:‘If Internet Access is a Human Right, WiFi is a Basic Public Service’

• 13 MAR 2017:To secure funding, answer security questions, broadband project must be in ‘18 budget

• 14 DEC 2016:Co-Sponsorship Speech: Free WiFI is ‘Liberation Technology’ Which Must Prod Urgent Telecom Reforms

• 03 SEP 2016:Free public W-Fi to get P1.8 B funding in 2017 – Recto

• 28 JUN 2016:Keynote Speech: From fighting crime to cutting red tape, how DICT can help, National ICT Summit 2016, Novotel Hotel, Quezon City, 28 June 2016

• 24 May 2016:Recto: DICT to make Phl an electronic republic

• 02 MAY 2016:Recto to DOST: Free public Wi-Fi in 12 regions must begin next month

• 17 APR 2016:Recto: 12 regions to get free public Wi-Fi by June

• 26 JUL 2015Recto: Prioritize free Wi-Fi in public hospitals, airports, MRT

• 21 MAR 2015:DOST to roll out hotspots in 967 towns, NCR, 14 cities

• 16 MAR 2015:Sponsorship Speech: Future proofing our country: Why DICT is an app we need

• 24 FEB 2015:Keynote Speech: The Importance of a Department of Information and Communications Technology, First General Membership Meeting – Infocomm Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP)

• 21 NOV 2014:Senate OKs funding for 51,000 free Wi-Fi spots

• 28 MAY 2014:Faster internet speed pressed

SENATE BILLS/AUTHORED LAWS

• 04 JUL 2016:Senate Bill No. 269: Bilis Konek Act of 2016

• 21 JUL 2016:Senate Bill No. 816: Free Public Wi-Fi Act of 2016

• 21 JUL 2016>Senate Bill No. 855: ICT in Education Act of 2016

• 23 MAY 2016:Republic Act No. 10844: Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Act of 2015

PRESENTATION

• 16 MAR 2015:Sponsorship Speech: Future proofing our country: Why DICT is an app we need