FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1227 
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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 the said 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 and effectively defray the costs of running the country, 
The passage of this law is earnestly sought as this will allow for 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, 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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Senate Bill No. 
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Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING AND F'ENALIZING 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 thfiJ Senate and the House of Rspresentatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SEC. 1. Title. - This Act shall be referred to as "The Anti Cable Television 
and Cable Internet Pilferage Act of 2010. " 
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 system/network, 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 system/network, 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
a. Cable Television (CATV) System/Network - 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 
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origination, relay and 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; 
b. 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 system/network; 
c. Cable Television (CATV) Service Operator - refers to any person, 
natural or judicial, public or private, granted a Certificate of 
Authority/Provisional Authority as provided under existing laws, 
rules and regulations, to install, operate and maintain a CATV 
system/network and service and is actually providing such service 
to its subscribers; 
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 
system/network and is actually providing such service to its 
subscribers 
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SEC. 4. Prohibited Acts. - It is hereby declared unlawful for any person, 
whether natural or juridical, public or private, to: 
a. Intercept or receive, or assist in intercepting or receiving, any signal 
or service offered over CATV and cable internet system/network 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 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 system/network 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, set40p 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 system/network of 
·the cable internet service operator; 
c. Knowingly use or receive al')Y 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 
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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 system/network, 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 system/network 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 system/network, 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 system/network 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 
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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 (P1 00,000.00), 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 (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 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. 
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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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