NEWSFLASH

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INTERNET SERVICE GROUPS CINTEST PLDT METERING

Manila, April 16, 1998 - Groups like the Philippine Internet Service Organization (PISO) will get the opportunity to contest the government's decision to allow PLDT's phone metering system.

PISO and the Telecommunication Users Group of the Philippines (TUGP) were caught unaware by the National Telecommunication Commission's decision on PLDT rates. The TUGP includes large-scale phone users like Pilipinas Shell, San Miguel Corporation, Citytrust, Texas Instruments, IBM Philippines and Sun Life of Canada among other corporations.

The TUGP is said to be negotiating with PLDT to increase the free minutes given to business subscribers from 800 to 2,640 per month, as their phone usage exceeds that of residential subscribers.

Under the provisional authority granted to the PLDT, the company is allowed to carry out a two-tiered hike in its local service rates for residential and business subscribers alike.

Once the PLDT's Local Measured Service (metered local phone calls) is adopted, PLDT may charge 10 to 40 centavos per minute in excess of the 800 free minutes allotted to each subscriber.

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