PHILIPPINE CABLE TELEVISION ASSOCIATION, INC. CABLE LINE Sept - Oct 2013 • Vol
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PHILIPPINE CABLE TELEVISION ASSOCIATION, INC. CABLE LINE Sept - Oct 2013 • Vol. 13 Issue 5 HEADLINE | NTC Issues Rules and Regulations on Cable TV and Internet Pilferage Law pAGE 4 INSIDE | Movers & shakers: SAriaya cable network (scan), inc. page 5 Advisory to PCTA Members To allow us to better serve our members: 1. Please update your official authorized representative, address, contact number (s) and email with the secretariat to facilitate better communication. 2. In an agreement entered into by PCTA with TV5MONDE, France24, Al Jazeera, Euronews, and Channel NewsAsia, these channels are giving free carriage to PCTA members. Members are therefore encouraged to carry FTA signal and advise the channel assignment to facilitate authorization documentation. 3. Assistance in processing MTRCB permits. 4. Use of the comments/suggestions box by members is highly appreciated. Editor-in-chief Jose lUis e. DABAO Design and Layout SAM l. lanUZa Editorial Board ceDric M. SAZon Circulation allan p. DUNGAO arlene c. TAN ralph b. casino ben l. SARILLA LYN s. oDUlio Managing Editor & Advertising Manager ROSANNA b. MANALANSAN Publisher philippine cable television ASSOCIATION Editorial Assistant (PCTA), inc. JenneFer a. MangUSSAD Unit 504 taipan place condominium, F. ortigas Jr. road, ortigas center, pasig city Contributors tel. nos.: 63.2.638.8541 • 63.2.638.8544 engr. JESSE glenn thiaM Fax no.: 63.2.638.85.42 engr. pere ESQUILLO email: [email protected] CABLE BOSS [email protected] CHANNEL NEWSASIA website: www.pcta.org.ph ALL RIGHT RESERVED. The Official Newsletter of THE PHILIPPINE CABLE TELEVISION ASSOCIATION, INC. Editor’s Note Jose Luis E. Dabao, Editor-in-Chief It has been a turbulent last few months for all of us. Natural disasters have affected members all over the country. The storms in Luzon have hurt some operators and the earthquake in the Visayas has affected some as well. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by these disasters. The turbulence isn't just limited to these; the industry is experiencing some volatility. The NTC has approved the implementing rules and regulations of RA 10515 or the Anti-cable television and cable internet tapping law. This is great news for operators like me who are still on an analog platform; we now have greater authority to crack down on signal theft. They also approved which platform Digital Terrestrial Television will be on. The massive capital raising infrastructure behind the broadcast networks will ensure that this tech will be rolled out sooner rather than later. Technology is a fast paced industry and it’s only getting faster. The best way to weather this shift in speed is to stand together as an association and pass along information and strategies to help each other. We can no longer grow on our own we need to go together. In recently concluded ECC in Cebu, just after the quake, the idea was put forth that operators should explore interconnection. While the models have not been thoroughly tested yet, we encourage all operators to consider this option. Interconnection isn't the only way forward for us and we encourage all of you to put forward your ideas in all the Executive conferences we're going to have to go forward. Cable line is trying to ride the wave of technology as well. If there is anything you want to see, more information you would like to gather or if you would like to discuss the way forward, tweet us @PCTA_news and let us know what you think! Enjoy this month’s issue! DISCLAIMER The opinions, views and/or contents expressed in the articles, contributors or paid advertisements of Cable Line are exclusively that of their author or originator, and do not necessarily reflect the position or stand of the PHILIPPINE CABLE TELEVISION ASSOCIATION, INC. CABLE LINE 3 NTC issues Rules and Regulations on Cable TV and Internet Pilferage Law by Anne B. Manalansan the national telecommunications commission (NTC) has come out with the implementing rules and regulations for republic act no. 10515, also known as "anti-cable television and cable internet tapping act of 2013" to further underscore the government’s thrust to put an end to cable pilferage. the new law, signed by president benigno s. aquino on april 17, prohibits the unauthorized interception, reception or use of any signal or service over a cable television system or cable Hon. Gamaliel A. Cordoba internet system and network. Commissioner, NTC it also prohibits the unauthorized recording, reproducing, distributing, importing or selling of any intercepted or received cable tv system or network signals for commercial purposes. NTC commissioner gamaliel a. cordoba stated in Memorandum circular no. 04-10-2013 that “it shall be the policy of the state to protect the general public and legitimate operators of cable television and cable internet services from unauthorized connections or tapping to existing facilities through wired, wireless, electromagnetic, and other means of cable pilferage.” the penalties for violating the law includes imprisonment of between 2-5 years or a fine between p50,000-p100,000 or both. the president, manager, or any officer of a corporation or association found violating the law will also be named as direct participant. the philippine cable television association inc. (PCTA), through their chairman, allan p. Dungao, hailed the issuance of the regulations as the final step in the organization’s drive to ensure Mr. Allan P. Dungao protection for the cable industry. “i believed then, and i still do now, that the cable industry will Chairman of the Board, PCTA grow and revenues will increase once we have this law,” Mr. Dungao said. 4 CABLE LINE The Official Newsletter of THE PHILIPPINE CABLE TELEVISION ASSOCIATION, INC. Republic of the Philippines OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 04-10-2013 SUBJECT: Implementing Rules and Regulations on Republic Act 10515 or the Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act of 2013 Pursuant to Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10515 and in line with the provisions of Executive Order Nos. 546 and 205, Act 3846 (Radio Control Law) as amended, Act 146 (Public Service Act) as amended, the National Telecommunications Commission hereby adopts and promulgates the following Rules and Regulations to implement the aforesaid law. Article I General Provisions SECTION 1. Title – These Rules shall be known as the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act of 2013. SEC. 2 Construction – These Rules shall be liberally construed to attain the efficient and effective implementation of R.A. 10515. SEC. 3 Definition of Terms – As used in these Rules: (a) “NTC” means the National Telecommunications Commission; (b) “Cable Television (CATV) Service” – refers to the transmission of the delivery of video and audio signals and programming for a fee through fiber optics, coaxial cable, and other technological means which shall include, but not limited to, transmission via wired or wireless means, including microwave, radio signal or frequencies, for purposes of providing multiple channel CATV Service. The term shall also include electronic equipment such as digital or analog receiver-decoder boxes, set-top and converter boxes as well as, but not limited to, master antenna television, satellite master antenna television, direct broadcast satellite/direct to home, multi-point distribution service, a television receive- only satellite program distributor and other providers of video and audio programming, whatever the technology; (c) “Cable Internet Service” – refers to the transmission of delivery of electronic signals to the provide and facilitate access to the World Wide Web for a fee through a Cable Internet System or Network; (d) “CATV System/Network” – refers to a facility engaged in the transmission or delivery of video and audio signals and programming for a fee through fiber optics, coaxial cable, and other technological means; (e) “Cable Internet System/Network” – refers to a facility engaged in the transmission or delivery of electronic signals to provide and facilitate access to the World Wide Web or a fee through a transmission or delivery system/network; (f) “CATV Service Provider” – refers to any person, natural or juridical, public or private, which was granted a Certificate of Authority or Provisional Authority as provided under existing laws, rules and regulations, to install, operate and maintain a CATV System/Network and is actually providing CATV Service to its subscribers. (g) Cable Internet Service Provider” – refers to any person, natural or juridical, public or private, which was issued a registration certificate as provided under existing laws, rules and regulations, to provide and facilitate access to the Continued on Page 6 CABLE LINE 5 From Page 5 World Wide Web, for a fee, through a Cable Internet system/network and is actually providing Cable Internet service to its subscribers. Article II Declaration of Policy SECTION 1. Declaration of Public Policy – The State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector in the national economy, encourages the proliferation of private enterprise, and provide incentives to needed investments. SEC. 2. Protection of the CATV and Cable Internet Industries – It shall be the policy of the State to protect the general public and legitimate operators of CATV and Cable Internet services from unauthorized connections or tapping to existing facilities through wired, wireless, electromagnetic and other means