The monthly rate for a 256 kbps DSL Internet connection for residential customers will drop from $41 to $25 per month if a proposal by ICE is approved. 12,000 customers who currently pay $25 a month for a 128 kbps line will see their download speed doubled, as that service will be eliminated. They will be transferred to the new speed at no additional cost. Other rates: 512/128 kbps - $36; 1024/256 kbps - $58; 2048/256 kbps - $ 69.95 (RACSA only)

These rates are still more expensive than in some countries. In the US Verizon offers a 768 kbps connection for $14.95 a month and in Spain a 1024 connection costs $36.60. However, most users are just happy they even have the service, after more than 2 years of delays in its implementation.

SICA (Central American Integration System) countries and Brazil met in Guatemala on Tuesday and released a joint statement that initiates an agreement to transfer technology for the production of ethanol, bio-diesel and other renewable fuels. Within 3 weeks a mission will visit Brazil’s automotive plants, Petrobras facilities, factories that produce ethanol and agencies that export equipment. The SICA presidents asked “Lula” to help bring about the creation of an ethanol plant by a Brazilian company within the area. The presidents also agreed to initiate an exploratory process in order to eventually open negotiations for a free trade agreement between SICA and MERCOSUR (Common Market of South America).

Representatives from the Libertarian Movement, Patriotic Union, Citizens Action Party, independents and even the official PUSC party are looking to vote on a motion next week that will to boot the fiscal reform back to the commission it crawled out of. The motion would remove the Tax Plan from the assembly’s agenda and return it to the legislative commission with no specified date of return.

Many lawmakers believe that the reform can’t pass anyway and it is just clogging up the sessions. Most observers agree that such a motion would pretty much end all hope for the package. On Monday a similar motion was defeated 23-22.