We demand that the NTC hold a nationwide series of public consultations on the issue of broadband internet connections. Failure to deliver promised services, failure to address customer complaints, failure to compensate customers for poor or botched services, the imposition of long contracts and so-called termination fees are hallmarks of the telcos when it comes to broadband internet connections. We are sure that consumers nationwide will look forward to attending such consultations and tell the NTC what the so-called regulator should be doing.

For starters, the Memorandum-Circular 12-19-2004, which the NTC seeks to reinforce, is outdated and thus must be updated to keep with the changing times and fast paced developments in broadband internet technologies.

The Philippines attained the respected status of a social media capital in the region and in Asia while enduring so-called broadband internet connections from the telcos. Up to now, the NTC has failed to follow the lead of telecom regulators worldwide in defining what broadband internet is, whether delivered via dial-up, wired or wireless connections. For instance, the US now defines “basic broadband” as internet services with a download rate of at least 4 Mbps and an upload rate of 1 Mbps. Worldwide, the trend is to consistently raise the basic minimum.

Without such a definition, the NTC leaves telcos practically free to hoodwink end-users, including business and the government, regarding broadband internet services, the cost and pricing, and to keep Philippine internet access among the slowest and most expensive in the region. At the same time, we cannot begin to estimate the amount of access fees charged or practically extorted by telcos for undelivered, under-delivered or poor services.

Lest we forget, we have learned in previous Senate hearings that the NTC has sufficient lawful powers to initiate and implement reforms and issue rules in the telco sector, so we do not wish to hear alibis that this regulating agency could only do so much.

Our group, TXTPower, calls on all Filipino texters and netizens to flood the social web with our calls for #betterinternet and to prepare for consultations which the NTC should hold as soon as possible in 2011. For starters, follow @txtpower on Twitter and repost this statement on your social networks.

For TXTPower:
Tonyo Cruz
President and Chief Executive Officer

Per-pulse billing must be implemented immediately for the benefit of consumers. Telcos are dragging their feet perhaps to keep the unfair per-minute billing through the highly lucrative Christmas and New Year holiday season.

It is obvious that Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular have not complied with NTC Memorandum Circular 05-07-2009 which requires them to implement per-pulse billing on intra-network calls last Dec. 6 and on inter-network calls last Dec. 6.

As of today, per-pulse billing is only optional for subscribers of Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular. The two companies require subscribers to use prefixes to avail of the per-pulse billing. Up until today, the default remains per-minute billing – a clear violation of the NTC order.

Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular all pretend to be surprised and would later claim that “technical difficulties” prevent them from immediately implementing per-pulse billing as default. That is simply not true. They knew about the Dec. 6 and 16 implementation dates as late as July 23 when the NTC signed the circular. From July up December, they had enough time to make the necessary changes in their billing systems.

We ask the NTC to itself follow Republic Act 7925 which empowers the commission to determine rates by telcos. The NTC must act as a regulator and not allow itself to be used like a doormat by the abusive telcos. It should penalize the telcos for flagrantly violating its circular.

We also ask Congress to exercise its oversight functions on the telecommunications industry and on the franchise laws Batas Pambansa 95 (Globe), Republic Act 7294 (Smart), and Republic Act 7678 (Sun Cellular) which all provide that NTC approval is required for the rates of services offered by the telcos. Congress should consider suspending these franchises.

We will reiterate these calls and unveil a consumer plan to lower mobile call rates on Monday during the Senate hearing called by Senate President Enrile and Senator Roxas.

(Reference: Tonyo Cruz, TXTPower president)