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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No 550

Introduced by Kabataan Party-list Representative Terry L. Ridon

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XVI, Section 10 of the Philippine Constitution states:

"The State shall provide the policy environment or the full development of Filipino
capability and the emergence of communication structure suitable to the needs and
aspirations of the nation and the balanced flow of information into, out of, and across the
country, in accordance with a policy that respects the freedom of speech and of the
press,”

In June 2011, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right of
freedom of opinion and expression issued a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council,
which states: "Given that the Internet has become an indispensable too! for realizing a range of
human rights, combating inequality, and accelerating development and human progress,
‘ensuring universal access to the Internet should be a priority for all States.”

The Internet has mace an enormous impact on the economic, socio-cultural and political
spheres of human development. The Intemet facilitates faster communication among and
between citizens and institutions. Business transactions are now faster with online banking and
trading; getting a degree over the Internet is now possible with distance learning education
programs; people may now avail of certain public services, and monitor the implementation of
government programs online.

The Free Public WLFi Act seeks to move government one step forward in providing
democratic access to the Internet. 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 an important mechanism in delivering
some of its services, and a valuable tool for people's participation in governance and in
democracy. One way to foster this democratic participation is by at least provide the people
access to the Internet in many, if not all, of our government buildings and public establishments,



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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,_ 1550

Introduced by Kabataan Party-list Representative Terry L. Ridon

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 internet
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 internet conneetivity 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 government
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


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be easily provided to the public upon request by individuals. No fee may be charged for
access to the free public wi-fi network.

SECTION 5. Places of Access. - At the minimum, government 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 ikewise 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 after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circu