NBN is all about overpricing, kickbacks and not about services Computer professionals say Filipinos could have made a cheaper alternative
Reference: Rick Bahague Contact: 09178840096 "The NBN project is really about who will get the kickbacks," said Rick Bahague of the Computer Professionals Union on the ongoing hearing on the controversial National Broadband Network in the Senate. The National Broadband Network is a multibillion peso information technology project. The Department of Transportation and Communications has already computed the supposed huge savings in yearly communications costs if this project is finished. "Computerizations and improved communication networks are welcome improvements in providing service to the grassroots", adds Bahague. "But it should not be a way for the First Gentleman and his cohorts to get huge kickbacks." The NBN project aims to interconnect 2,295 government agencies and 23,549 municipalities and barangays. The First Gentleman has been recently implicated as the "Mystery Man" in the contract negotiations. “The National Broadband Network, if implemented by a government with genuine interest in serving its population, can indeed enhance the flow of information between national and local agencies. Unfortunately, this administration is primarily interested on sharing the kickbacks.” Bahague added. The government is not new to deals with such huge networks. The Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute maintains a similar network which interconnects different research institutions nationwide – the Philippine Research, Education, and Government Information Network (PREGINET). The said network has at least 16 access points for use of its partners all over the archipelago. On PREGINET, local partners connect to one of the access points which has direct connections to one of the 4 exchange points. The exchange points are then connected to the ASTI. "Filipino computer professionals have the competency to implement such a project but the government preferred foreign counterparts. This is one indication that they are really after their own interests rather than implementing the project for the benefit of the people." Rick Bahague added. *The Computer Professionals' Union is a group of volunteers advocating information technology for the people. CPU has been supporting different grassroots organizations in the use of ICT. NBN: Boon or Bane is posted at www.cp-union.org. ### -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- GPG Key: http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xB57550EF Url: tek4dpipol.blogspot.com advocacy: www.cp-union.org Others: http://rbjrph.multiply.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Nobody knows who will win this fight, because the outcome depends on you and the readers. Will you fight for freedom? Will you reject Windows and MacOS and other non-free software, and switch to GNU/Linux? Or will you be too lazy to resist? R. Stallman
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