Lapid files bill seeking non-expiry of unused internet data

A bill seeking to allow the non-expiry of unused internet data until the end of every year was filed by Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid on Wednesday.

Senate Bill No. 1880 seeks to allow the subscribers to get the full value of the money they spend for internet data.

"Through this scheme, unused data allocation from internet data packages or promos will not expire but will instead carry over to succeeding months until the end of the year," Lapid said in the explanatory note of the proposed law.

"If at the end of the year, there are still remaining unused data allocations, the same will be converted into rebates which, in turn, may be used for future subscriptions," he added.

All internet service providers in the country shall be covered by this proposed "roll-over data allocation scheme" and the unused internet data that was carried over shall be prioritized to be consumed.

Not covered by the bill are "subscribers who shall avail of any unlimited internet data package" or those without internet data cap.

Internet service providers who would fail to comply in carrying out the provisions of the bill shall be fined P300,000 for the first offense; and P500,000 for the second offense.

A third offense would be equivalent to a P1 million fine and the revocation of the service provider's license and franchise.

The bill mandates the Department of Information and Communications Technology to coordinate with the National Telecommunications Commission and other concerned agencies in crafting the implementing rules and regulations.

Lapid said this measure is much needed in a "data-hungry and internet-based world" where the poor are forced to allocate their meager financial resources for internet subscriptions.—AOL, GMA News