Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10929)
Republic Act No. 10929 is known as the "Free Internet Access in Public Places Act."
The State recognizes the vital role of information and communications technology in nation-building and promotes the development of structures ensuring availability and accessibility to reliable and secure internet access suitable to the nation's needs and aspirations. The State shall establish a program to provide free internet access in public places throughout the country.
Key features include: no fees collected from users to connect to public internet points, separation of free internet services from backend government systems, and employing technical solutions that only limit access when necessary for security or technical risks while maintaining ease of access.
Covered public places include national and local government offices; public basic education institutions; state universities and colleges and TESDA institutions; public hospitals, health centers, and rural health units; public parks, plazas, libraries, and barangay reading centers; public airports and seaports; and public transport terminals.
The DICT is the lead implementing agency overseeing the implementation of the Program. It is responsible for developing the implementation plan, coordinating with agencies and stakeholders, prescribing policies and regulations, arranging funding, ensuring minimum internet speeds, overseeing infrastructure projects, training personnel, and regulating installation standards.
Yes, to promote efficient and cost-effective delivery, the DICT may partner with private sector entities. Private partners may offer supplemental internet services for a reasonable fee if registered with the National Telecommunications Commission as value-added service providers.
Exclusivity arrangements favoring a single telecommunications entity are prohibited to ensure free and unrestricted access to public places for broadband facility installation and operation. Violations may result in administrative penalties against concerned government officials and employees.
The DICT, in coordination with the NTC, is assigned frequencies needed for the Program without causing interference to private operators. Use of unassigned spectrum may be granted under transparent, fair, and nondiscriminatory terms as set by guidelines from DICT, NTC, and PCC. Open shared use of spectrum is encouraged.
The minimum internet speed per user shall be two megabits per second (2 Mbps) or as prescribed by the national Broadband plan, whichever is higher.
The government shall respect users' privacy. The Program’s administrators or managers are prohibited from collecting, using, or disclosing user data, including anonymous traffic data, in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173).
Yes, access to pornographic websites is prohibited under the Program.
The DICT, in coordination with the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography and in consultation with telecom companies and civil society, shall develop standards and mechanisms for online child protection consistent with existing laws.
They must coordinate with DICT and DILG for streamlining permits and fee regulations, facilitate telecom access to government properties, align their free internet programs with the Act, ensure equipment security, and assign personnel for site coordination.
The DICT shall streamline permit applications and standardize fees. Licenses not released within seven days without cause are deemed approved. No additional requirements beyond those stipulated by DICT shall be required. The DILG monitors LGU compliance.
The FPIAF is a fund managed by the DICT to finance the implementation of the Program, sourced from Spectrum Users Fees collected by the NTC and other sources identified by the Department of Budget and Management.
This Act took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation, after its approval on August 2, 2017.