Foreign chambers support passage of Open Access bill

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign business groups are pushing for the immediate approval of the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act, but want the House of Representatives to reconsider an amendment concerning the retention of the franchise requirement for international cable landing stations.

In a statement yesterday, the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) which groups the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese and Korean chambers in the Philippines, as well as the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc., called for the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act’s immediate passage.

The proposed measure is expected to help address the gap in broadband infrastructure and encourage more players in the market.

The bill also seeks to make it easier for internet service providers to enter the broadband sector, as well as allow faster and less expensive installation of broadband facilities.

It also aims to provide cheaper and convenient internet access for Filipino consumers.

When the bill is passed into law, the JFC said it would provide a competitive policy and regulatory framework that would reduce the barriers and cost to entry in the data transmission market.

This would lead to an improvement in data transmission services in terms of faster internet speed and lower internet cost.

“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,” it said.

While it supports the urgent passage of the bill into law, JFC has requested the House of Representatives to re-evaluate the amendment introduced during the period of amendments to retain the franchise requirement for international cable landing stations.

JFC said this amendment would prevent more players from joining 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 JFC said.

As the bill moves in Congress, the JFC also expressed support to the Department of Information and Communications Technology for its plan to request to have the Open Access bill certified as urgent.