Thirteenth Congress of the 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Republic of the Philippines 
) 
Senate 
S. B. No. 
CY - /x 13 
(1 e?, 
Introduced by Sen. Juan 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, IHBO, 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 industry 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, these 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: 
1) to intercept or receive, or assist in intercepting or receiving, any signal 
or service provided by cable TV and internet systems or network by 
tapping or other means of unauthorized connection; 
2) 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; 
3) 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, 


4) to wantonly, maliciously or willfully damage, desiroy 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 
collective 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 bill is earnestly 
sought. 


Thirteenth Congress of the 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Republic of the Philippines 
) 
S E N A T E  
I _ _ (  
Introduced by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile 
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 Representaatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be referred to as "The Anh' Cable Television 
and Cable Internet Pilferage Act of 2006". 
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 


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broadcast tclevision 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 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, whch 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. 
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 systems/network by tapping, making 
or causing to be made any unauthorized connection to existing facilities with drop, 
feeder, 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 


2 
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 system/network 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 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, 


3 
(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 
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. 
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 registere 
subscribers of such CATV or cable internet service operators. 


4 
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