THE Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) has asked the government to revisit a provision retaining the franchise requirement for international cable landing stations under House Bill (HB) 8910 or the Open Access in Data Transmission Act, as this may prevent investors from entering the broadband industry.
While the foreign chambers support immediate passage of the Open Access bill, they have some reservations on the amendment about the franchise requirement for international cable landing stations.
“The JFC considers such amendment as a barrier to entry of more players in the broadband sector,” the business groups said in a joint statement on Sunday.
“Sadly, this will delay lowering the cost of broadband and providing a fuller range of digital access for consumers and citizens throughout the country,” they added.
The JFC urged the speedy enactment of the bill, which is pending for plenary deliberations in the House of Representatives, because it aims to bring in more players in the data transmission and broadband sector.
As a result, the foreign chambers see the gap in broadband infrastructure being addressed.
The business organizations noted that HB 8910 seeks to make the industry more welcoming for the internet service providers while allowing more competition and innovation.
In addition, it hopes to make access to internet cheaper and convenient for the local consumers, they noted.
“The JFC believes that the enactment of this bill will substantially alleviate the challenges and difficulties brought by the Covid-19 pandemic to businesses of every size, schools, hospitals, and government who increasingly depend on digital connections in their daily work and life,” the joint statement read.
Meanwhile, as the legislation advances in Congress, the JFC also 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, its news release continued.
The statement was signed by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Australian-New Zealand Commerce of the Philippines, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc.