The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) has asked the House of Representatives to strike a provision in the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act that retained the franchise requirement for international cable landing stations.
The JFC in a statement said it has written House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco seeking
reconsideration to amend this provision in House Bill 8910 pending for plenary deliberations at the House.
“The JFC considers such amendment as a barrier to entry of more players in the broadband sector. Sadly, this will delay lowering the cost of broadband and providing a fuller range of digital access for consumers and citizens throughout the country,” the group said.
On the whole, the JFC backs HB 8910 saying it bridge the critical gap in broadband infrastructure by bringing in more players in the data transmission and broadband sector.
“Once passed into law, the Open Access Act will provide a competitive policy and regulatory framework that lowers the barriers and cost to enter the data transmission market. This will significantly improve the data transmission services – faster internet speed and lower internet cost – throughout the country,” the group added.
HB 8910 seeks to make it easier for internet service providers to enter the broadband sector, compete and innovate; allow faster and less expensive installation of broadband facilities; and make it cheaper and convenient for Filipino consumers to access internet.
The JFC said the enactment of this bill will substantially alleviate the challenges and difficulties brought by the pandemic to businesses of every size, schools, hospitals, and government which increasingly depend on digital connections in their daily work and life.
JFC commended the Department of Information and Communications Technology for its plan to request for the certification of the Open Access bill as urgent for immediate enactment. – Irma Isip
