National Telecommunications Commission proposes new legislation for universal access fund

The Philippines’ telecommunications regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has proposed a new legislation to set up a universal access fund (UAF) for expanding broadband services in the country. According to the proposed legislation, telecom operators will have to contribute 0.25 per cent of their gross revenue to the UAF. Further, the new law would require NTC to transfer 90 per cent of the annual spectrum fees it collects from operators into the fund.