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[av_heading heading=’EDITORIAL | Right to internet access’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Friday, May 5, 2017
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HERE’S one good news: House Bill (HB) 5225, “An Act Mandating the Provision of Free Public Wi-fi Internet Access in Public Areas”, has been approved by the 17th Congress on third and final reading on May 2. The Senate version was passed on March 13 yet.
This is a step towards the realization of Filipinos’ easy access to the internet. Once this is signed into law, the government must take further steps towards democratizing access to the internet, to propel the economy, and consequently increase access to information. This will help in fighting misinformation and public manipulation.
The United Nations Human Rights Council considers internet access a basic human right. It is of the view that all people must be able to access the internet to exercise and enjoy their rights to freedom of expression and opinion and other fundamental rights such as the right to information.
HB 5225 mandates the government, including local government units and government-owned and -controlled corporations, to install broadband hotspots in public areas that will provide a stable and reliable wireless internet connection. Among the areas to be provided wi-fi are local and national government offices, public elementary and secondary schools, and state universities and colleges, and other public places such as railway stations and public transportation terminals.
Other provisions include prohibition of administrators and managers of public broadband hotspots from collecting user data from people who will connect to the public Wi-Fi network.
But passing this law is only the first step towards the realization of wider access to the internet. Free public wi-fi access involves improving and transforming the physical infrastructure of our network systems. Telco networks must be called out for the slow and erratic internet connection, including the prohibitive pricing of their internet services – key factors for the lackluster internet services in the country today.
According to the UN, states have a responsibility to ensure that internet access is broadly available, and that states may not unreasonably restrict an individual’s access to the internet.
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