REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4271

House Bill No.

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Representative Raymond V, Palatino

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The internet has proven to be one of the greatest and most valuable venues where
people can exercise their democratic freedoms, from their personal rights as individuals to
freely express their sentiments, to the people's collective rights to air out political opinions
and grievances.
The Free Public Wi-Fi Act seeks to move government one step forward in

providing democratic access to the world wide web. Notwithstanding the issue of the

mass accessibility and availability of personal electronic devices that people have to use in
order to access public networks, government has to recognize that the intemet is one
important mechanism in encouraging the people's participation in governance and in
democracy and one way to foster this democratic participation is by at least providing the
people access to the internet in many, if not all, of our government buildings and public
establishments. It will also encourage people to visit and look upon our government

institutions as truly public spaces where they can assemble and converge for discussions,

talk with goverment officials, and participate in democratic processes.


‘The approval of this act will signal the government's genuine determination in
truly and effectively using information and communications technology in further

advancing the people's democratic rights and interests.

Adopted,

HON. Ray ut Y. PALATINO

Represenfative, Kabataan Party



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4271

House Bill No.

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Representative Raymond V. Palatino

AN ACT

PROVIDING FREE PUBLIC WIRELESS INTERNET ACESSIBILITY IN
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, MUNICIPAL HALLS AND
PROVINCIAL CAPITOLS, STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, PUBLIC
PARKS AND PLAZAS, PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND PUBLIC
TRANSPORATION TERMINALS BY INSTALLING WIRELESS INTERNET
CONNECTIONS IN THEIR BUILDINGS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS:
THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Free Public Wi-fi Act.”

SECTION 2. Installation of Wireless Internet Connections. ~ Wireless intemet connection
shall, as far as practicable, be installed and be made available in buildings of all national
government offices including its regional and satellite offices, in municipal halls and in
provincial capitols, in state universities and colleges, in public parks and plazas, in public
hospitals and in public transportation terminals such as airports and public bus stations.

SECTION 3. Internet Service Provider. — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
shall, as far as practicable, provide the intemet connectivity necessary to comply with the
provisions of this Act. Only in cases where the DOST is technically unable to provide internet
connectivity shall the administration or management of a goverment office, state university or
college, public park, public hospital or public transportation terminal concerned avail of the
services of commercial internet service providers.


SECTION 4. Wi-fi Access. — No restrictions, in the form of passwords and other similar
mechanisms, shall be imposed with regard to access to the free public wi-fi network. Only
in cases where there is a clear and present security or technical risk that cannot be remedied
through normal technical solutions shall the administration or management of a government
office, state university or college, public park, public hospital or public transportation
terminal limit access to the network through the use of passwords, which shall be easily
provided to the public upon request by individuals. No fee may be charged for access to the

free public wi-fi network.

SE

ION 5. Places of Access. ~ At the minimum, goverment offices, state universities
and colleges, public hospitals and public transportation terminals shall ensure that access to
the free public wi-fi network is available at the main lobbies and main hallways of each
distinct and separate publicly-accessible building in government offices, state universities
and colleges, public hospitals and public transportation terminals and at the main assembly
points in a public park or plaza.

SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. — The Commission on Information and
Communications ‘Technology shall be the lead agency in charge of ensuring the

implementation of this Act. It shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the

effective implementation of this Act, and will likewise ensure compliance therewith, It shall
also formulate project proposals that will ensure that the government can fully provide for
itself the technology and infrastructure necessary to comply with the Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be incorporated in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afer its publication

in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Adopted,