Financial penalties go to Digital Inclusion Fund

Ms Lim Siew Leng suggested that part of the financial penalties imposed on telcos and transport operators be used to benefit consumers, either in the form of rebates or vouchers, rather than benefiting the Government ("Hefty fines don't benefit consumers"; May 8).

Offers of compensation by the telecommunication licensees are one of the mitigating factors that the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) takes into account when determining the financial penalty amount.

All financial penalties collected from telecommunication licensees arising from the Bukit Panjang fire incident will go towards a new Digital Inclusion Fund announced last month.

The Fund was set up by the IDA to help provide financial assistance to low-income individuals and households, to help bridge the digital divide.

It will also support social innovations that can help volunteer welfare organisations in the social service sector to better manage the well-being of their beneficiaries. One example would be providing home Internet access for beneficiaries to surf the Web for information and make digital voice calls.

Letter by Ng Sook Fun (Ms)

Director

Corporate and Marketing Communication

Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore

This article was published on May 21 in The Straits Times.

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