or On Minimum Speeds of Broadband Internet Connections
The Philippine National Telecommunication Commission held a public hearing yesterday January 12, 2011 for the Draft Memorandum Circular On Minimum Speeds of Broadband Internet Connections:
- broadband service providers should specify the minimum speed, service reliability and service rates in their advertisements;
- minimum service reliability should be 80%;
= internet connection should be provided on a “best efforts” basis;
= consumers should be informed of the service being offered;
- service providers offering committed information rate (CIR) shall comply with NTC memorandum circular No. 12-19-2004; and that= providers set a maximum volume of data allowed for subscribers per day.
As expected the public hearing attracted the attention of a number of broadband stakeholders or those who have interest in broadband services in the Philippines. So much so that it was covered on-line – it was tweeted and video streamed.
the jester-in-exile:noticing lag of audio stream — live-stream of NTC hearing at
inquirerdotnet: @paolomontecillo Two years of covering the NTC and I’ve never seen this many people attend their hearings
the jester-in-exile: @inquirerdotnet not counting online viewers pa — live-stream of NTC hearing at http://bit.ly/f5lSsX #betterinternet
the jester-in-exile: audio is up now yay but with a few gaps here and there on ntc livestream http://bit.ly/8Z5vsi
@blogwatchdotph @momblogger #betterinternet
dementia: No audio again ( @blogwatchdotph live at http://ustre.am/8cWc)
the jester-in-exile: cordoba notes no min speeds on telco ads — livestream of NTC hearing at http://bit.ly/f5lSsX #betterinternet
the jester-in-exile: @momblogger reads petition out loud — livestream of NTC hearing at http://bit.ly/f5lSsX #betterinternet
dementia: Hala nawala yung livestream #betterinternet
the jester-in-exile: livestream dies (illustrating unreliable internet connection?) — livestream of NTC hearing http://bit.ly/f5lSsX #betterinternet
Sonnie: lols. isp’s common response is to file their position papers. #ntc #betterinternet
the jester-in-exile: livestream back up but spotty a bit — livestream of NTC hearing http://bit.ly/f5lSsX #betterinternet
This goes on and on. With the different Stakeholders giving the NTC a piece of minds and with the ISP/telco representatives interestingly submitting their position papers – perhaps knowing well in advance it would be useless to say it out loud in the live stream because of the slow Internet connection and most likely their position papers would state they are and should be un-regulated.
Meanwhile in Congress Congressman Palatino filed this resolution – A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE QUALITY OF BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICES DELIVERED BY COMMERCIAL TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES.
Some interesting observations related or unrelated to he hearing:
One, Amazing though is the sluggishness of the telcos in upgrading their broadband service is the polar opposite of their marketing of their broadband services. Superior marketing but inferior product?
If I were a telco rep I would not brag about fast and reliable broadband connection for a while.
Two, Save for the noise online of minimum speed and broadband data cap there seems to be little or no buzz. Is this because Internet penetration in the Philippine is at thrity percent? Is this because the issue involves big telcos?
Three, How will such developments (or lack of it) reflect on us all. To paraphrase Shakespeare, There is something rotten in the state of broadband connections …
Four, After the petition, position papers, hearings .. what next?
But I digress, ramble and in danger of becoming too slow.
So To sum it up …
There was a hearing at the NTC were minimum broadband speeds were discuss (and a broadband cap) the coverage was powered by a slow slow slow slow slow slow slow slow sluggish sluggish sluggish sluggish torpid torpid torpid torpid torpid broadband. Where the consumers complained, telcos submitted position papers and the NTC asked everyone to submit their position papers …. online.
Good Luck.
