Toll-free hotline for mobile phone subscribers proposed

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) has recommended that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) put up a consumer help desk and toll-free hotline to enable mobile phone subscribers to immediately report problems concerning their carriers.

Gordon also proposed that the NTC require mobile phone content providers to come up with a double opt-in system for subscription services so that consumers are aware of the amount they have to pay and the frequency of the services they are about to subscribe to.

“What we want to do is protect the public by having a toll-free hotline by the NTC. For example, if a person receives spam text messages, he could call the NTC, who should immediately investigate and must have the authority to cut down the number and even track it down,” he said.

The senator explained that he is not convinced that the NTC should eliminate promotional messages altogether because it is also good for business in the country and provides employment, but it has to ensure that the public has a recourse if and when content providers become abusive.

Gordon said the NTC should require carriers or content providers to identify their names or the names of the companies providing the services in all messages sent to subscribers. These carriers should also put up a toll-free number and a zero tariff short code wherein subscribers, even if they have no load, can text or call to cancel or quit from any service.

By ROLLY T. CARANDANG - Manila Bulletin

Globe, Senate spurred to action after Enrile’s outburst

Globe Telecom has started investigating the complaint of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile over the diminution of his prepaid cell-phone load, said Froilan Castelo, the service provider’s head for regulatory affairs.

Castelo clarified that subscribers who agree to the offers of ringtones, games and MMS pictures by content providers are apt to experience diminution of load even if they do not use their mobile phones to call, or to text.

“They experience deduction of loads perhaps because of the ringtone or ring back,” he said, adding if the firm’s investigation would show that the service providers are at fault, “we terminate their services.”

Enrile had called for the Senate inquiry after noting that his pre-paid load in his Globe-serviced cell phone had gone down three times even when he was not using it.

This prompted Sen. Bong Revilla, chairman of the Committee on Public Services, to initiate an investigation even during the congressional recess.

The Second Regular Session adjourned sine die Wednesday evening. The 14th Congress would next meet at the inaugural session of the Third Regular Session on July 27, 2009. However, Senate committees have been authorized to conduct hearings even during the recess.

Revilla said he would call Globe, Smart and Sun Cellular to the committee hearing.

He said that prepaid cell-phone subscribers have been protesting against the “pernicious confiscation” of unused load credits, putting of expiration dates on the pre-paid load credits, as well as the “excessive and unnecessary” advertisements by these telcos.

“Since a franchise is merely a privilege granted by the government through Congress, it would be tantamount to a gross violation of their franchise if such claims be proven true,” he said.

When news of his problems regarding his cell-phone load came out, Enrile said he was flooded with similar complaints.

Enrile’s outburst on his cell-phone load led to calls for an investigation by Sen. Joker Arroyo who claimed that telcos charge per minute of calls even though the law says every six seconds.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero meanwhile complained of frequent dropped calls as a result of overloaded cell sites.

Sen. Richard Gordon, for his part, cited unsolicited or spam messages such as ringtones.

The senators said it would look into complaints against services of telcos.

Enrile said he was ready to appear at the inquiry but would prefer that it be done after two weeks to give the senators time to rest.

--Efren L. Danao And Francis Earl A. Cueto
Manila Times

Tougher bills filed on cellphone sale

TWO senators yesterday declared war on criminal syndicates using cellular phones in their nefarious activities.

Sen. Richard Gordon filed Senate Bill No. 289 proposing the registration of prepaid subscriber identity Module or SIM cards to trace errant users. He earlier proposed a jail term of from 12 to 29 years for cellphone snatching.

“While mobile phones have brought us speed and efficiency in our transaction, there are individuals who take advantage of these modern technology to commit crimes with greater facility. Lawless elements must not be granted the privilege of using mobile phones to achieve their crimes,” Gordon said.

Opposition Sen.Panfilo Lacson meanwhile filed Senate Bill No.191 which seeks to regulate the sale of prepaid SIM cards by requiring buyers to register information into a database the telecommunication providers will maintain.

“Not only is this pre-paid subscriber identity module card easily accessible, i.e., it can be bought almost everywhere. The owners thereof can likewise easily evade detection since prepaid SIMs are virtually undetectable,” he said, adding: “Due to this, unscrupulous individuals almost always take advantage of the same in the pursuit of their criminal activities to the detriment not only of a particular interest but that of the whole nation.”

Gordon wants every mobile company to register its subscribers — both prepaid and postpaid — and maintain a directory indicating the SIM card serial number, mobile phone number, name and address of the subscriber.

“This will promote responsibility and accountability in the use of SIM Cards in mobile phones as well as provide better law enforcement in protecting the public,” he said.

Gordon said information on SIM Card registration shall be treated as absolutely confidential, unless otherwise specified by the subscriber.

Under Gordon’s bill, every cellphone seller shall require his SIM card buyer to present valid identification with picture to ascertain his identity. The seller also requires the buyer to accomplish a registration form issued by the mobile phone company of the SIM Card being purchased.

Lacson meanwhile proposed a fine of P25,000 for first-time violators, P50,000 for the second, and P100,000 for third- time violators.