Sen. Lapid files bill allowing unused data to have no expiration till end of every year

On Wednesday, Senator Lito Lapid filed a bill seeking to allow the non-expiry of unused internet data until the end of every year.

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Lapid’s Senate Bill No. 1880 seeks to institutionalize a roll-over data scheme for all internet service providers (ISPs). It allows 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,

he said in explaining his measure.

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. Subscribers will definitely get the full value of the money they have spent in paying for these packages and promo.

Lapid said this would prevent the common scenario where subscribers would lose megabytes, if not gigabytes, of data allocation “just because the expiry date of the package or promo had already passed.”

This situation is quite unfortunate in light of our current data-hungry, internet-based world, especially for the poor who are forced to allocate their meager financial resources for internet subscriptions,

he went on.

Under his bill, all internet service providers are mandated to implement a roll-over data system for their subscribers. Then the unused internet data that was carried over shall be prioritized to be consumed.

The bill also provides that all unused data allocation for a year may be converted as rebates, which could be used to pay for internet service in the succeeding year of subscription.

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 senator underscored the importance of passing the measure when many have become heavily dependent on the internet as they were forced to work from home due to the threats of the 2019 coronavirus disease.

This transformation has brought to the fore the gaps and weaknesses of our country’s internet infrastructure and capabilities,

he said, noting how the country is lagging behind other nations in terms of internet speed.

It is therefore imperative that the government enact and implement policies, measures and strategies to address this connectivity problem and provide interventions that will improve our citizens’ experience with the quality of services offered by Internet service providers (ISPs), and telecommunications companies operating in our country,

Lapid said.

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.