The Philippine Online Chronicles

Not another broadband internet article! Well, see, Blog Watch vision as citizens’ watch dog relies heavily on social media which in turns require internet connection and availability to our readers. My expertise revolves around the online medium despite being invited lately to contribute to print medium. More than being a blogger and associate editor to Philippine Online Chronicles, is being a mom to a daughter based in Australia. I am sure the overseas Filipino worker can relate to me about communicating with their loved ones. In my article, “Never an empty nest in cyberspace”, I cannot stress enough the importance of technologies and internet in real-time communication with my daughter. I want to be available when my daughters need to talk to me as if they were with me physically.

The internet though open to abuse by a small minority opened a lot of doors to increased knowledge. The Vibal Foundation , for instance where I am working on a part-time capacity pioneered projects in open knowledge, based on the premise that knowledge should be participatory and creativity shared for the benefit of all. I am sure there are many worthy online sites that deliver the same premise but I have first-hand experience with these sites before I worked with the foundation, such as Filipiniana.net a digital library and institutional repository, the WikiPilipinas, an online, free content encyclopedia that aims to be the best resource for information on the Philippines on the internet. Lastly, there is the E-Turo a free e-learning portal where Filipino teachers and learners can interact for effective teaching and learning. E-Turo contains a large archive of educational materials that users can download, share, modify, and print. It addresses basic, alternative, and continuing education. These are worthy projects that will benefit a lot of Filipinos. I cannot stress enough the value of information like these that are now accessible to the Filipino netizens.

The telecommunication companies (telcos) suggestion on a broadband cap in the draft memo was preposterous. Of course, I can see through the real motives of how service can be improved by limiting daily usage of the vast majority of netizens. Using 'abusive users' as justification for the broadband cap instead of the well-being of our citizens is a lame excuse to improve the quality of internet services in the country. In recent years, telcos “have grown fat and lazy, trying to compete with existing networks in need of upgrades — in search of quick profits and no costly capital expenses.”

At the well-attended National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) public hearing on January 11, I questioned the draft memo where netizens and consumers were not even consulted. Instead NTC chose to consult only with telcos as early as September 2010. It is indeed pathetic to know that regulations to promote better broadband were gathered initially from industry people.

A day after the hearing, Deputy Commissioner Jaime Fortes Jr. announced that NTC “scrapped a proposal to allow local telecommunications companies to limit the Internet usage of their subscribers, following stiff opposition from the public".  While this action is a small victory, the move to a better internet does not stop at the removal of broadband cap. Several telcos are currently implementing broadband caps on their substandard services. The broadband cap is evident in some telcos such as the Globe Tattoo, Wi-tribe , Wimax and Bayantel.

While awaiting the position papers of the telcos, I am reiterating my stand on better internet services and will continue to update my position as the need arises:

1. NTC should consider the eight-point demands of netizens as listed down in our online petition.

• hold nationwide public consultations and hearings to address problems besetting broadband internet users
• define "broadband internet" in all its forms;
• impose a basic standard of service reliability of 90 percent and broadband internet speed as advertised on all telcos and ISPs;
• provide the public a standard protocol and tool to check compliance by telcos and ISPs;
• enforce proper billing and end unfair and anti-consumer practices, especially the so-called data-capping, "burstible speeds", long contract periods and pre-termination fees;
• open and maintain social media contact points (including Twitter and Facebook) where the public could file complaints and seek redress of grievances;
• check the current infrastructure and development plans of telcos and ISPs; and
• review the Public Telecommunications Law and the NTC

  
  

2. Review the broadband access classification as value-added service (VAS) which is deregulated. Broadband is not VAS when it can be sold independently of its main services (i.e. cellular, landline). Internet usage is not the same as it was ten years ago. Bayan Telecommunications, agrees the real revenue is in broadband as demand for it increased more than traditional revenue sources like voice calls and international long distance calls. Today, internet connection is a basic service needed by consumers to communicate with family members, acquire information and knowledge.

 

3. Review the performance of the telcos who are operating under the franchise granted to them by the government . If the telcos cannot cope with the demand of the internet usage, it is necessary to open up the competition to not just two major players.

 

4. Review claims of “unlimited internet” and other advertising claims of internet speed. Telcos need to disclose the real speed that we are subscribed to.

 

Vigilance is needed because telcos may easily find other means to place a broadband cap , limit internet usage and ultimately deliver substandard services. As a citizens' watchdog for transparency and good governance , Blog Watch envisions among other tasks, the continuing education of the online community on proper citizen monitoring, good governance and voter education.  Better internet service is needed to widen our scope to the vast majority of our citizens.

Photo by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado. Some rights reserved.