NewsWhore
10-07-2010, 04:10 PM
Diario Libre's telecommunications correspondent Hiddekel Morrison writes today that recent figures released by the National Statistics Office (ONE) show that 75% of Dominicans do not have access to the use of the Internet. The recent National Survey of Households (Enhogar) indicates that only 25% of people over the age of 12 have access to the Internet.
Despite the low access level, Morrison says in the 2011 National Budget presented by the Executive Branch the government imposes a 1% reduction in the deductions to telecom bills that are aimed at encouraging Internet use among low-income Dominicans. Morrison writes that the 1% difference is added to the luxury tax in order so as not to increase the already very high 28% tax levied on telecommunications. Morrison points out that the World Economic Forum places the DR in the last places in Latin America in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), ranked 75th of 135 countries.
Senator Jose Rafael Vargas, former president of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) said that the reduction penalizes a government institution that was doing good work. Vargas (PLD-Espaillat) says that the reduction will halve the programs aimed at expanding Internet use among Dominicans. He said that the proposed budget cuts funding for projects that are being implemented at Indotel.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)
Despite the low access level, Morrison says in the 2011 National Budget presented by the Executive Branch the government imposes a 1% reduction in the deductions to telecom bills that are aimed at encouraging Internet use among low-income Dominicans. Morrison writes that the 1% difference is added to the luxury tax in order so as not to increase the already very high 28% tax levied on telecommunications. Morrison points out that the World Economic Forum places the DR in the last places in Latin America in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), ranked 75th of 135 countries.
Senator Jose Rafael Vargas, former president of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) said that the reduction penalizes a government institution that was doing good work. Vargas (PLD-Espaillat) says that the reduction will halve the programs aimed at expanding Internet use among Dominicans. He said that the proposed budget cuts funding for projects that are being implemented at Indotel.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)