House panel approves satellite liberalization bill

MANILA – A House of Representatives’ panel on Wednesday approved a measure allowing small-town internet service providers, schools, and civic organizations to use the country’s satellite orbital to provide internet service to the countryside.

The House Committee on Information and Communication Technology approved House Bill 7081, or the proposed Satellite Liberalization Act, which aims to make access to satellite-based technology more inclusive and regulatory framework clearer.

In his sponsorship speech, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda lamented that the farther a community is from a main island like Luzon or Mindanao, the less likely one is to get internet, which becomes a source inequality among the regions considering that many economic opportunities are tech-based.

“In fact, much of the country’s underserved areas are in regions off Luzon island. In the Visayas, where major island groups may not be large enough to attract investment in internet infrastructure, internet use is at the lowest level in the country, at 34 percent,” Salceda said.

He noted that the current policy on the use of satellites, as codified in Executive Order No. 467 (1998), restricts the Access to International Fixed Satellite Systems to “enfranchised telecommunications entities duly authorized by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to provide international telecommunications services” and broadcast service providers.

Salceda said the proposed law would allow internet service providers (ISPs) and value-added services (VAS) providers to build and operate their own network using satellite technology.

He said this will broaden competition among ISPs, and eventually lower costs and improve benefits for the consumers.

The bill also encourages government organizations, public and non-profit private educational institutions, volunteer organizations engaged in education, environmental management, climate change management, disaster preparedness and crisis response to own and operate satellite-based technology to aid and augment their activities.

“Internet access is like the land reform of this generation. As wealth becomes more and more tech-based, and jobs become more available online, we need to ensure every Filipino has access to cheap, reliable internet,” Salceda said.

He stressed the need for satellite liberalization as it could help bring prosperity to the countryside.

“In some far-flung areas, it’s too expensive for companies to set up broadband or fiber. Satellites don’t have that problem,” he said. “Most job opportunities available in the internet do not care whether you’re in the province or in NCR (National Capital Region). That is why connecting everyone, even the farthest communities in the farthest islands, to the internet is important to me. It’s a tool for social equity.”