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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Manny B. Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Theft of cable services is the reception of any services offered over a cable system 
without paying for the system. Cable theft is a widespread problem that results in revenue 
losses to the cable industry totaling billions of pesos per year. By depriving cable 
operators of substantial revenue, people who steal cable adversely affect cable companies' 
ability to provide their customers with high quality products and services. 
It is also worthy to note that increasing incidents of theft in the Philippines' cable 
television industry have deprived the government of some $38 million in tax payments 
last year. 
Amounting to P1.71 billion, the amount is a few hundred million pesos shy of the 
2008 budget of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The agency secured 
an allotment of P1.944 billion for this year. 
So aside from the unquestioned trouble that illegal cable connections and theft has 
brought us, it is also costing the State the ability to provide the basic services to people 
ahd effectively defray the costs of running the country. 
The passage of this law is earnestly sought as this will allow f?r the up close and 
personal dealing with the problem of illegal theft of cable television and other services 
that are provided therewith, and provide the Cable TV operators to have a more effective 
weapon in dealing with the problems besetting the cable industry. 


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POURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING 
AND 
PENALIZING 
THE 
PILFERAGE 
AND 
THEFT, 
UNAUTHORIZED USE, INTERCONNECTION, OR RECEPTION OF ANY SIGNAL 
OR SERVICE OFFERED OVER A CABLE TELEVISION (CATV) OR CABLE 
INTERNET 
SYSTEM 
AND/OR 
NETWORK 
OR 
THROUGH 
ANY 
UNAUTHORIZED INSTALLATION, ACCESS OR CONNECTION THERETO 
THROUGH THE USE OF CABLE OR OTHER EQUIPMENT, AND PRESCRIBING 
PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congvess 
assembled: 
SEC. 1. Title. - This Act shall be referred to as "The Anti Cable Television and 
Cable Internet Pilferage Aci of 2008. If 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to protect the 
general public and legitimate operators of (a) cable television (CATV) systems and/or 
networks that secure programming through the reception of local and foreign satellite, as well 
as other electromagnetic signals, and (b) cable internet services that provide access to the 
world wide web through the CATV systemhetwork, from unauthorized connection or 
tapping to existing facilities through wire or electromagnetic means. Only subscribers duly 
authorized and/or registered with the CATV and/or cable internet service operator shall be 
allowed to receive any service or benefit offered and/or operated over a CATV or internet 
systeidnetwork. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
a. Cable Television (CATV) Systemmetwork - refers to processes and 
facilities associated with the delivery of signals and programs provided for 
by broadcast television stations, local and foreign satellite program 
providers or CATV service operators, through origination, relay and 
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reception of electronic or control signals of any design by wire, optical or 
other technological means for the purpose of providing multiple-channel 
CATV service to multiple subscribers within defined service areas. 
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 antennae television, satellite master antennae television, 
direct broadcast satellite, multi-point distribution service, a television 
receive-only satellite program distributor and other providers of video and 
audio programming; 
Cable Internet SystemlNetwork - refers to the processes, including 
electronic equipment such as modems, associated with the access to the 
World Wide Web through the facilities of the CATV systeminetwork; 
Cable Television (CATV) Service Operator - refers to any person, 
natural or judicial, public or private, granted a Certificate of 
AuthorityiProvisionaI Authority as provided under existing laws, rules and 
regulations, to install, operate and maintain a CATV systeminetwork and 
service and is actually providing such service to its subscribers; 
b. 
c. 
d. 
Cable Internet Service Operator - refers to any person, natural or 
judicial, public or private, which was issued a registration certificate as 
provided under existing laws, rules and regulations, to provide and 
facilitate access to the world wide web through a CATV systeminetwork 
and is actually providing such service to its subscribers 
SEC. 4. Prohibited Acts. - It is hereby declared unlawful for any person, whether 
natural or judicial, public or private, to: 
a. Intercept or receive, or assist in intercepting or receiving, any signal or 
service offered over CATV and cable internet systeminetwork by tapping, 
making or causing to be made any unauthorized connection to existing 
facilities with drop, feeder, 38 andor trunk lines, or through the use of 
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electronic equipment such as digital or analog receiver-decoder boxes, set- 
top or converter boxes, modems, or any equivalent circumvention devices 
or methods that allow for unauthorized access or decoding of' unencrypted 
or encrypted satellite program signals or other electromagnetic signal, or 
unauthorized access into the systemhetwork of the cable internet service 
operator, or by the recording, manufacture, distribution, importation or 
sale, of intercepted or received CATV signals and cable internet service; 
b. Engage in the unauthorized importation, sale, lease, distribution or 
possession of electronic equipment such as digital or analog receiver- 
decoder boxes, set-top and converter boxes, modern or any equivalent 
circumvention devices or methods that allow for unauthorized access or 
decoding of unencrypted or encrypted satellite program signals or other 
electromagnetic signals, whether local or foreign, or unauthorized access 
into the systemhetwork of the cable internet service operator; 
c. Knowingly use or receive any direct or indirect service or benefit from 
CATV and cable internet services through the commission of any of the 
preceding prohibited acts; and, 
d. Wantonly, maliciously or willfully damage, destroy or remove CATV 
and/or cable internet facilities and accessories of authorized CATV and 
cable internet service operators resulting into system disruption or network 
degradation 
SEC. 5. Prima Facie Evidence. - The presence of any of the following 
circumstances shall constitute prima facie evidence of the illegal tapping, interconnection or 
reception into the CATV or cable internet systemhetwork, by the person benefited thereby, 
aind shall be the basis for (a) the immediate disconnection by the CATV or cable internet 
service operator to such person after due notice; (b) the holding of a preliminary investigation 
by the public prosecutor and the subsequent filing in court of the pertinent information; and, 
3 


(c) the lifting of any temporary restraining order or injunction which may have been issued 
against a CATV or cable internet service operator: 
a. The presence of drop cable, feeder and/or trunk lines from the CATV or 
cable internet systemhetwork to the structure and facilities of the 
unauthorized person which has been confirmed by the CATV or cable 
internet service operator as not being a duly registered subscriber; 
b. The unauthorized tapping of drop cable, feeder and/or trunk lines into the 
CATV or cable internet systeminetwork, and/or the unauthorized 
installation of electronic equipment such as digital or analog receiver- 
decoder boxes, set-top and converter boxes, or modems, by persons not 
duly authorized by the CATV or cable internet service operator; and, 
c. The unauthorized possession and use of electronic equipment such as 
digital or analog receiver-decoder boxes, set-top and converter boxes, or 
modem used to intercept CATV signals or access the cable internet 
systeminetwork and which equipment have not been duly registered with 
the CATV or cable internet service operator or have been covered by the 
appropriate licenses and permits from the proper government regulatory 
agency or agencies in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. 
SEC. 6. Penalties. - Any person who willfully violates any provision of this Act or 
commits any of the prohibited acts in Section 4 hereof shall be punished by an imprisonment 
term of not less than two (2) years but not more than five (5) years, or a fine ranging from 
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) to One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Pl00,000.00), or both, 
at the discretion of the court. 
SEC. 7. Information Dissemination. - The National Telecoinmunications 
Commission and the Cable Television Associations in the Philippines, shall collectively 
undertake a vigorous campaign to inform the consuming public of the existence of this Act, 
within sixty days (60) &om its effectivity and at least once a year therearter. 
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SEC. 8. Rules and Regulations. - The National Telecommunications Commission, 
in consultation with the Cable Television Associations of the Philippines and other affected 
parties, shall within sixty (60) days after the conduct of due hearings which must commence 
within thirty (30) working days upon the effectivity of this Act, issue the implementing rules 
and regulations to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the provisions of this 
Act. 
SEC. 9. Recovery of Pilferage Losses. - Any duly authorized CATV or cable 
internet service operator may recover pilferage losses from such unauthorized persons found 
to have committed any of the prohibited acts in this Act in an amount equivalent to at least 
one (1) year basic subscription fees presently charged registered subscribers of such CATV 
O-T cable internet service operators. 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, ordinances, rules, regulations 
and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 11. 
Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the 
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) national newspapers of 
general circulation. 
Approved, 
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