The House of Representatives last night approved on third and final reading a bill mandating free public wireless internet access in major public places.
With 212 congressmen voting for approval, House Bill 5791 was passed by the Lower Chamber during yesterday’s session.
Authors of the measure include Reps. Terry Ridon (Kabataan Partylist); Michael Velarde (Buhay Partylist); Jonathan de la Cruz (Abakada Partylist) and Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers Partylist).
HB 5791 or the proposed Free Public Wi-Fi Act seeks to address the country’s interconnectivity problem by providing free public access points in identified public places.
Among areas where public wireless internet access will be made available are public buildings, public transport terminals, parks, public hospitals, buildings of state universities and colleges and plazas.
“The Free Public Wi-Fi Bill seeks to move government one step forward in providing democratic access to the Internet,” said Ridon.
MANILA BULLETIN
