Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
1/16/2017
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
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The technology minister, Gilberto Kassab, denied on Friday (13), by note, that the government would allow fixed broadband internet operators to impose data limits for subscribers this year.
"The Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications, Gilberto Kassab, clarifies that there will be no changes in the current model of fixed broadband plans, reiterating their commitment to serve the interests of the population and the consumer," says the entire note sent By the ministry's communications advisor.
The new statement came after Kassab said in an interview with the portal "Power 360" published on Thursday (12) that would allow operators to set the limits of data in fixed Internet contracts. "Our goal is in the second half," he said.
Do you agree with the fixed broadband limit?
No, the consumer is always penalized
Yes, it is business law.
I would even agree if the Brazilian internet was of a quality
If the price was fair
VotingResultado parcial
"Our goal is to benefit the user, the ministry works for the user to benefit from better services. We hope that this service is as elastic as possible, but that it has a balance, because companies have their limits," he continued. The minister, who did not explain what the "benefits" to the user would be.
On Friday morning (13), the president of Anatel, Juarez Quadros, said that the minister would have "been mistaken" in the interview about the limitation of data.
"Anatel has maintained the injunction [issued in April to prevent operators from blocking the service after exceeding the limit of the data franchise] and there is no intention or policy of government Which indicates otherwise, "said Quadros.
He reinforced what he said at a public hearing in December in the Senate's Committee on Public Transparency and Public Governance: "The precautionary measure is in place and I do not intend to address this issue any time soon."
Protest says not understanding speech in public consultation
Proteste, a consumer rights organization, was shocked by Kassab's earlier speech, which stated that fixed broadband would gain limitations this year. This was because it was said in the midst of a public consultation still in progress on the subject.
"What I found strange is that there is a public consultation in progress and it has to be finalized, analyzed and then you have to indicate what the participations were." The consultation is for that. Maria Inês, representative of Protest.
The entity again expressed its intention to set limits on fixed broadband. Proteste also acts to overturn cuts in mobile broadband, an attitude long held by operators.
We are against the broadband franchise. It's an illegal practice they're trying to do. There is a civil milestone on the internet and the internet is considered very essential and can not have cuts or limitations. In this sense we also understand that this is outside the attributions of Anatel ", Maria Inês, representative of Protest
Inquiry in progress
Despite the denials, a public consultation by Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency) is still in force to "collect technical subsidies" to substantiate the agency's decision on the issue. In addition, academic personalities are being invited by the organization to give their arguments. The deadline for the public consultation will end on 30 April.
Understand
In April last year, operator Vivo had decided to cut the fixed internet after the user reached the data limit. This would happen to new customers, at least at first.
At the time, the other operators said they would not cut access, even if some plans currently in place already establish data franchises in the plans' contracts. What happened so far was slowing down in some cases. See the current situation of the four main fixed broadband operators --Vivo, TIM, Oi and Net-- on the subject.
Within days of Vivo's announcement, Anatel published in the Official Gazette a rule that prevented operators from reducing, cutting or charging excess consumer fees that exhaust franchises without tools to help customers have information about their plans.
However, in the middle of the discussion, the then president of Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency), João Rezende, said that the regulation of the agency allows fixed Internet operators to adopt a limit for consumption. For now, that's what it's worth.
In an interview with UOL in October, the current president of Anatel, Juarez Quadros, had emphasized that in each country there is a distinct situation regarding the limitation of data. "In the United States, for example, the speeds are higher and the capacity in Megabytes is higher than the one practiced worldwide, that is, consumers are served by a normal condition ... There are countries where limitation is prohibited, As in Germany. "
Regarding the cost-benefit situation of the internet in Brazil, Quadros blamed high taxes for the values of fixed Internet service. "It's no use saying that it's the Union's fault, because it's not. That's because one of the biggest tributes is the ICMS, which is state ... How can such a state accept a reduction in taxes?"
With the controversy, three Senate commissions - Science, Technology, Innovation, Communication and Information Technology (CCT); Environment, Consumer Protection and Inspection and Control (CMA); And Infrastructure Services (CI) - held a joint public hearing on the issue in July. It discussed two bills --174 / 2016 and 176/2016 - aimed at preventing companies from limiting data.
The resumption of the discussion comes at a time when the Temer government is waiting for the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to sanction changes in the rules of fixed telephony, allowing operators to receive billions of reais in Union assets and no longer have universalization targets. Services currently in force on concession contracts.
Source: UOL News
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.