Republic of the Philippines )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

4741

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. Delphine Gan Lee

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘A study conducted in November of 2013 found out that there are more than 33 million
active Internet users in the Philippines today. This translates to 3.5 out of 10 Filipinos who
ate online. Filipinos spend most of their online time on social networking, travel, and
entertainment websites.’ In the Southeast Asian region, the Philippines is considered the
fastest growing Internet audience.” Filipinos are also more likely to browse a social

networking site as compared to the entire world.

Wi-Fi refers to wireless networking technology which lets computers and other
devices communicate over a wireless signal. This technology is supported by a very large
number of applications and devices such as video game consoles, home networks, Personal
Digital Assistants, mobile phones, major operating systems and other types of consumer
Products tested and approved as "Wi-Fi Certified" by the Wi
certified as interoperable with each other.*

Fi Alliance is

electronic

Municipal Wi-Fi is the idea of converting an entire city into a Wireless Access Zone.

The end goal is to make wireless access to the Internet free and available to everyone. This is

generally done by providing municipal broadband thru Wi-Fi to the main areas or all of a

+ hutp://www.forward.ph/blog/the-state-of-philippine-intemet-usage-2013-infographic/

? http://www. rappler.com/life-and-style/technology/35384-philippine-internet-audience-growth-
comscore

> http: /wwww.techterms.com/definition/wifi

15 JUL 20145 \
(los Ain


municipal area by creating a wireless mesh network. The usual design utilizes hundreds of

routers deployed outdoors. The network operator acts as a wireless internet service provider.

New York City announced in December of last year the launch of what will be the
i network in the United States. This will blanket 95 blocks of Harlem. It is called

the Harlem Wi
in the United States, serving approximately 80,000 Harlem residents, New York City's Mayor

i Network and once completed, it will be the largest outdoor Wi-Fi network
Michael Bloomberg said during his press conference on the matter.*

This is not limited to the industrialized world, Even developing countries have caught
on with the trend of having a wired city. Bangalore has become the first city in India to have
free wifi hotspots.’ The project, launched at the iconic MG Road in central Bangalore, allows
a person to browse up to three hours a day and download up to 50 MB of data. The free Wi-
Fi also comes with applications. Soon to be active will be the parking app, the garbage app
and the likes. The parking app can show the nearest slot for parking and the garbage app

would tell you the nearest garbage throw away point.

‘This bill aims to lay the groundwork for the creation of municipal Wi-Fi systems in
the entire country. This will make Internet connection accessible to everyone and thus
democratize information and education. A. Wi-Fi city is also more attractive to tourists and
businesses. Each city is different in its requirements for wireless broadband. Wireless
communications are critical for public safety. First responders can set up an instant network
at the scene of an incident with a wireless mesh. A citywide wireless mesh infrastructure can
support secure mobile communication for police and fire departments. A wireless
infrastructure may provide low-cost or free Internet access and could be part of a program to
make computers and Internet access available to marginalized families. High-speed wireless

cess can attract

Internet access can help revive ailing areas, Low-cost broadband Internet a
more businesses to town, help increase tourism in resorts, or simply make an area more
attractive as a destination, Many government employees can do their jobs more efficiently if
they have access to the city network out in the field. A municipal wireless network allows
instant access to important city records and databases for tax collectors, auditors, and

“ http:/mashable.com/2013/12/10/new-york-city-hatlem-wi-fi-network/
5 hetp://www.ndtv.comvarticle/cities/bangalore-becomes-first-indian-city-to-have-free-wifi-hotspots-
475164


building inspectors. Citywide wireless networks also enable new applications, such as
automated meter reading for utilities and parking meters, or intelligent traffic networks. The

possibilities are limitless. We are a wired country and this measure will serve a big number of
Filipinos and integrate those who cannot afford to pay for an Internet connection with those

who can.

The early passage of this measure is thus earnestly requested.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo,__ 474

Introduced by Hon. Delphine Gan Lee

AN ACT
CREATING AN INTEGRATED AND LONG TERM WL-FI PLAN FOR THE
DIFFERENT CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as the "Wi-Fi Act of 2013."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the important role of
information and communications technology in nation-building; the need to create an
information-friendly environment which ensures the availability, diversity, and affordability
of such products and services; the primary responsibility of the private sector in contributing
investments and services in telecommunications and information technology; the need to
develop, with appropriate training programs and institutional policy changes, human
resources for an information technology intensive country; and the need to marshal, organize,
and deploy national information infrastructure, comprising in both telecommunications
network and strategic information services, including their interconnection to the global

information networks, with the necessary and appropriate framework, systems, and facilities.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall


10
ul
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

25

mean:

(a) Wi-Fi refers to a wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide
high-speed network and Internet connections. This also refers to wireless local area network
(WLAN) products that are based on the Institute of Blectrical and Electronics Engineers’

(IEE

802.11 standards;

(b) Service Provider shall refer to a provider of online services or network access, or
the operator of facilities therefor, including entities offering the transmission, routing, or
providing of connections for online communications, digital or otherwise, between or among
points specified by a user, of electronic documents of the user’s choosing; or the necessary
technical means by which electronic documents of an originator may be stored and made
accessible to a designated or undesignated third party. Such service provider shall have no
authority to modify or alter the content of the electronic data message or electronic document
received or to make any entry therein on behalf of the originator, addressee, or any third party

unless specifically authorized to do so, and who shall retain the electronic document in

accordance with the specific request or as necessary for the purpose of performing the
services it was engaged to perform.

(c) Computer refers to any device or apparatus which, by electronic, electro-
mechanical, or magnetic impulse, or by any other means, is capable of receiving, recording,
transmitting, storing, processing, retrieving, or producing information, data, figures, symbols,
or other modes of writen expression according to mathematical and logical rules or of
performing any one or more of those functions. Computer shall be deemed to include smart
phones, personal digital assistants, laptops, tablets, and other similar devices;

(d) Center shall refer to the National Computer Center or NCC; and

(e) Director General shall refer to the head or Commissioner of the National

Computer Center.


21
22
23
24

25

SECTION 4. Wi-Fi Feasibility Study. — (a) The National Computer Center (NCC)

shall be the lead agency in evaluating and studying the feasibility of building a municipal Wi-

Fi network. At the city or municipality level, project developers shall be required to ask the

NCC to perform a feasibility study prior to the granting of the subsidies under this Act.
(b) The NCC shall undertake to: (1) promote the growth of Wi-Fi technology in cities
and municipalities; (2) formulate the Wi-Fi development process in these local government

units; and (3) evaluate the Wi-Fi process upon its completion in a given LGU.

SECTION 5S. Municipal Wi-Fi Program. — There is hereby created a Municipal Wi-

Fi Program which shall address the needs of local government units in building a Wi

network at the city or municipal level. The capacity in municipal wireless networks can be
increased through the following:

(a) Making more wireless spectrum available for municipal networks to increase
capacity;

(b) As usage increases, decrease the radio frequency power and reduce the size of the
coverage area of each access point. The first step is to deploy smaller base stations
mounted lower so they cover a smaller area, just as the cellular industry did in big
cities. This leads to more access points in a given area operating on different
channels. More access points, with each one supporting fewer users, means more
capacity is delivered throughout the system;

(©) Directional antennas can increase capacity on the wireless backhaul network by
reducing the number of nodes that share the same radio link. Initially, backhaul
mesh interconnection is a shared wireless mesh, with omnidirectional antennas at

every node. For more capacity, separate access and backhaul in different bands.

The next step to increase capacity is adding directional antennas on towers to form

inks at the core of the backhaul network. Then, as

dedicated point-to-point

wo


7
18

20

21

22

23

demand increases, move directional antennas out to the edge to inerease capacity
in high-traffic areas;

(@) The municipal wireless system of the future will most likely be a single
infrastructure that supports different wireless access technologies: Wi-Fi,

WiMAX, cellular, and the 4.9-GHz public safety band. The infrastructure may

include a mix of different technologies. The network may be owned and operated
by a service provider. Some of the services may support city applications, and

some may be commercial wireless services.

SECTION 6. Grants. — The NCC shall release grants to qualified LGUs pursuant to

standards set in the Implementing Rules and Regulations. The LGU shall cover half of the

cost necessary for the implementation of the Municipal Wi-Fi Program.

SECTION 7. Funding. - The amount of five hundred million pesos
(P500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial year of this Act. Every year
thereafter, Congress shall allocate an amount not less than thirty million pesos
(P30,000,000.00) to be included in the budget of the NCC for the implementation and

continued expansion of this program.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretaries of the

Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Transportation and

Communication shall adopt rules and regulation to implement the provisions of this Act

within ninety (90) days from the date of effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain

valid and subsisting.


SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or

inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended

accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

‘Approved.