Ahead of the 2024 State of the Nation Address, 23 organizations representing diverse sectors have urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to prioritize the passage of Senate Bill No. 2699, also known as the “Konektadong Pinoy Act” or the “Open Access in Data Transmission Act.”
This crucial bill aims to stimulate private sector and community investment in broadband infrastructure, ultimately expanding internet access for all Filipinos.
Specifically, it seeks to simplify the licensing process for internet network and service providers, accelerate network deployment through infrastructure sharing and streamlined permit approvals, and broaden access to radio spectrum, particularly in rural areas.
Furthermore, the bill will modernize outdated policies that have hindered internet connectivity in the country, including the Public Telecommunications Policy Act and the Radio Control Law, both of which are decades old.
The call for prioritizing this legislation came from a broad coalition, including prominent Philippine business groups, Joint Foreign Chambers, industry associations, and civil society organizations.
The Open Access in Data Transmission bill was previously approved by the Lower House in December 2022 and is currently under the purview of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
“We can no longer afford to be in the dark ages when it comes to the internet and its accessibility to each and every Filipino,” he said.
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