The Chilean Chamber of Deputies approves the project that establish internet as public service.
When the law will be enacted and the regulations approved, the internet service will be audited as mobile telephony and tools will be enabled to close the digital gap, explains Telecommunications Undersecretary's Office (Subtel) in a press release.
Juan Carlos Muñoz, Chilean Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, said that this law comes to take care of the country's need to shorten the digital divide, because today everyone need internet access.
Muñoz remembered that during pandemic we discovered the importance, how hard it is for people who do not have good digital connectivity, how that means being left out of accessibility to services, connectivity that today is fundamental in the modern life.
“Not having internet services is as serious as possibly having my electricity cut off and my water cut off. Or maybe today it is as unthinkable for many of us not to have access to the internet as it is to not have access to the streets. For this reason, this law that has been approved by the Chamber of Deputies, last week by the Senate, makes us so happy”, expressed the Ministry.
The approved project means a big step in the recognition of rights in a digital society, affirmed Claudio Araya, Under-secretary for Telecommunications.
“We advance with more digital connectivity throughout the national territory, equitably and overcoming access gaps”, said Araya.
Some of the benefits enabled with the approval of the law considered the companies obligation to provide digital connectivity services in all places where they have coverage, eliminates the concept of red zones as a limitation to the time to arrive with services to certain areas of the country.
On the other hand, the Under-secretary for Telecommunications supervisory will be strengthened and will be able to increase sanctions and fines for legal and regulatory non-compliance by telecommunications companies; in addition will allow he creation of mechanisms to subsidize demand and thus help families afford home Internet plans.