800,000 face new tax to bury cables

A new tax on users of telecommunications services and pay TV, was approved by Panama’s National Assembly on Tuesday April 10.

The tax will apply to 800,000 users across the country to pay for the burying of cables in only a few locations, including Panama’s banking center.

If you live outside of these areas, the eyesore  power and communications cables will still be strung across your street.
Seven hours of debate on Bill 423  preceded  the 11:20 pm vote,with 38 in favor and 6 against.

During the discussion the director of the Public Service Authority, Zelmar Rodriguez was questioned by opposition MPs. Users will pay a tax on their services of  0.5% to fund the project. The tax will put at least $8.3 million a year into the government coffers  according  Rodriguez. 

Cables currently strung overhead would be buried  in the banking center in Panama City, the Colon Free Zone (excluding France Field), the high-voltage-South corridor project, the central avenue of the of Santiago, Veraguas province and the city of David (Fourth Street between C Street and eighth Avenue East), in Chiriqui.