Group warns of lower internet quality if bill diminishing NTC power passed into law

A consumer group has warned of lower internet quality in the country if a bill which "diminishes" the regulatory powers of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) into mere oversight will be passed into law.

“If the NTC’s role is diminished, consumers may find themselves with little recourse when faced with poor service or unfair practices.” CitizenWatch Philippines said referring to Senate Bill 2699 or Konektadong Pinoy Bill.

SB 2699, if passed, will eliminate the need for a congressional franchise for telecommunication companies, which will diminish the regulatory powers of the NTC.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, proponent of the bill, earlier said the proposed measure was a "landmark bill" that would pave the way for reliable, affordable, accessible internet connection across the country.

"I really feel that this is an opportunity to comprehensively approach this and once magawa natin to, we will in a year, two, or three years see the difference of having reliable, affordable, accessible internet connection in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao," he added.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is pushing for the passage of the measure which, it said, will provide open access and transparency in the country’s data transmission sector.

But CitizenWatch lead convenor Orlando Oxales expressed worry that this could give way to a deluge of new entrants, even those without technical capability or financial stability to provide reliable connectivity to Filipinos.

“In the rush to increase competition, we could end up with a marketplace flooded with providers who would claim to prioritize speed but cannot deliver on quality and security, leaving Filipino consumers with subpar and unsafe internet services.”

He also raised the issue of erosion of consumer protection, because it is the NTC’s mandate to hold telecommunications providers accountable and compliant to standards that protect consumers.

Operators could then resort to cutting corners to maximize short-term gains, to the detriment of long-term service quality and innovation, Oxales said.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/AOL, GMA Integrated News