FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
, 
Introduced by SENATOR SUAN PONCE ENRILE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The operation of the cable TV industry is a vital technological development that 
has significantly helped in the fast and effective delivery of information, entertainment 
and other services to the Filipino public. Channels such as the CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, 
AXN, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, HBO, Star World, Cartoon 
Network and Disney Channel are only some of the most popular channels which have 
greatly improved Filipino viewing since the programs aired over these channels are not 
only entertaining, but are also informative and educational. 
However, the cable TV industry now faces problems such as signal theft and 
illegal connections. As of June 2005, the number of illegal cable subscribers was 
estimated at 835,000, which increased by 28% from 650,000 in the year 2004. What was 
also interesting to note was that the number of legitimate subscribers decreased by 15 
percent, from 880,000 in 2004 to 750,000 in June 2005. 
This untoward development within the indusm has undoubtedly caused huge 
losses to the cable TV industry. Legitimate cable TV operators suffer in terms of lost 
market and higher programming costs. Moreover, in 2004, the industry reportedly lost 
P3.92 billion, almost 55% of which, or P2;13 billion, was the foregone revenue of the 
government in terms of taxes, import duties and licensing fees. In 2005, industry losses 
already increased to P5 billion. 
Hence this bill. This proposed measure seeks to address the problems in the cable 
TV industry by prohibiting the following acts: 
to intercept or receive, or assist in intercepting or receiving, any 
signal or senice provided by cable TV and internet systems or 
network by tapping or other means of unauthorized connection; 
to engage in the unauthorized importation, sale, lease, distribution 
or possession of electronic equipment that allow for unauthorized 
access into the system or network of the cable TV or internet 
service operator; 
to knowingly use or receive any direct or indirect service or other 
benefit from cable TV and cable internet services through the 
commission of any of the prohibited acts as provided in the 
proposed measure; and, 
to wantonly, maliciously or willfully damage, destroy or remove 
cable TV and or cable internet facilities and accessories of 
authorized cable TV and cable internet service operators which 
results in system disruption or network degradation. 


The bill provides for penalties for the violation of any of the prohibited acts and, 
at the same time, enjoins the National Telecommunications Commission and the Cable 
Television Associations in the Philippines to collectively undertake a vigorous campaign 
to inform the public about the merits of this legislation when enacted. 
While several local government units have already issued local ordinances to 
protect the industry, there is still an urgent need to enact a national legislation to better 
ensure the survival and sustainability of the cable TV industry. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this ill is earnestly sought. 
2 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
I 
Introduced by SENATOR JUAN PONCE ENRILE 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
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 JNSTALLATION, ACCESS OR CONNECTION THERETO 
THROUGH THE USE OF CABLE OR OTmR EQUIPMENT, AND 
PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THERJCFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be referred to as "The Anti Cable Television 
and Cable Internet Piwerage Act of 2007': 
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 andor 
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 systednetwork, from unauthorized connection 
or tapping to existing facilities through wire or electromagnetic means. Only subscribers 
duly authorized andor registered with the CATV and/or cable internet service operator 
shall be allowed to receive any service or benefit offered andor operated over a CATV or 
internet systednetwork. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
(a) 
Cable Television (CATV) Systedetwork - 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 reception of electronic or control signals of 
any design by wire, optical or other technological means for the 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
S 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
1s 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
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 System/Network - 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 
systednetwork; 
Cable Television (CATV) Service Operator - refers to any person, 
natural or judicial, public or private, granted a Certificate of 
AuthorityProvisional Authority as provided under existing laws, 
rules and regulations, to install, operate and maintain a CATV 
systednetwork and service and is actually providing such service 
to its subscribers; 
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 systednetwork 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 
systemshetwork by tapping, making or causing to be made any 
unauthorized connection to existing facilities with drop, feeder, 
38 
and/or trunk lines, or through the use of electronic equipment such 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
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 
systednetwork 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; 
Engage in the unauthorized importation, sale, lease, distribution or 
possession of eleckonic 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 nnencrypted or encrypted 
satellite program signals or other electromagnetic signals, whether 
local or foreign, or unauthorized access into the systednetwork of 
the cable internet service operator; 
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, 
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 primafacie evidence of the illegal tapping, interconnection 
or reception into the CATV or cable internet systemhetwork, by the person benefited 
thereby, and 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, (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 systednetwork to the strncture and 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
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 systednetwork, andor 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 systednetwork 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,OOO.OO) to One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(PlOO,OOO.OO), or both, at the discretion of the court. 
SEC. 7. Information Dissemination. - The National Telecommunications 
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) from its effectivity and at least once a year thereafter. 
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 days (60) after the conduct of due hearings 
which must commence within thirty working days (30) 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. 


I 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 i 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
21 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
SEC. 9. Recovery of Piyerage 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 or 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. Effectivig. - 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; 
pmv\catv