SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES> 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1 590 
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) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sen"t .. 
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SEP 10 
1\10 :59 
It is often observed that the law lags behind sweeping social and 
technological developments of the time which significantly redefine our ways of 
living. In such circumstances, the law has tei keep abreast with these changes in 
order to maintain its preservative and regulatory function in society. This 
dynamism is much more pronounced 
in the case of recent scientific 
breakthroughs. The advent of cable television technology is a classic example. 
Cable television operations is fact becoming a major business enterprise. 
Currently, the industry has an estimated work force of more than 700,000 
employees and contributes to the national coffers about P600 million in taxes 
annually. There are about 327 local entreprencurs operating in the industry 
(Philippine Cable Television Association, 1995). 
However, the large amount of capital outlay needed to expand the 
industry's operations and the strength of commercial mass media stifles its growth 
potentials. Aggravating the woes of local investors in the industry is the state of 
Philippine law governing it. It is widely perceived that the Government is in a state 
of confusion in regulating the industry. 
Under Executive Order No. 205 signed in 1987, the cable television industry 
is classified as a form of commercial mass media, hence the application of the 
prohibition on foreign equity participation in the industry as enunciated in Article 
XVI, Section 11 (1) of the 1987 Constitution. On the other hand, Republic Act No. 
7925 enacted in 1995 seems to include cable television systems in its definition of 
telecommunications without any categorical mention of it. 
Be that as it may, the records of the 1986 Constitutional Commission clearly 
shows that the framers of the Constitution considered telecommunications as a 
public utility. Therefore, foreign equity participation in the cable television industry 
may be allowed. 
However, the ambiguity of the language of EU No. 7925 with respect to the 
nature of the cable television industry and the inadequacy of the provisions of E.O. 
205 in addressing the concerns of the industry necessitate remedial legislation. In 
the context of the fact that the cable television industry is impressed with public 
interest, this bill aims to provide the cable television industry the impetus it needs 
to develop by laying down the legal basis for the entry of needed capital, albeit 
foreign-owned. 
To ensure the dominance of local equity, the bill provides incentives and 
support mechanisms that will promote competition in the field and· allow a better-
leveled comparative growth of the different players in the enterprise. The proposed 


legislation also seeks to rationalize government regulation of the industry be 
clearly delineating the powers of the government agency mandated by law under 
E.O. No. 205 and RA No. 7925 and through the formulation of provisions specific 
and categorical to the industry. 
Most importantly, this bill aims to bring the Philippine cable television 
industry at par with global trends and standards through technology transfer. It is 
hoped that these novel innovations in the law will ultimately redound to the benefit 
of the industry's subscribers, of which a growing majority are the common Filipino 
masses. 
In the light of the above premises, the immediate passage of this bill is 
earnestly urged. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1590 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
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SEP 10 
1\10 :59 
PROMOTING AND REGULATING THE OPERATION OF CABLE TELEVISION 
IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Cable Television Act 
of 2013". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to: 
a) To recognize that the delivery of cable television services to subscribers 
is impressed with public ipterest and subject to minimal and reasonable 
government regulation. 
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b) As public interest requires, to allow viable competition in the cable 
television industry. in order to achieve and sustain its growth, to ensure the 
industry's responsiveness to the needs and interests of its subscribers and of the 
general public, and discourage and prohibit monopolies in the industry. 
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c) To establish and promote the highest standards for cable television 
operation and services to maximize the informative, educational and entertainment 
or recreational value of cable television technology to the public, and 
d) To encourage self-regulation in the cable television industry and 
professionalism in the delivery of its services through nationwide associations of 
legitimate cable television service operators. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act 
a) Cable Television System - refer to any and all processes and facilities 
for the purpose of providing service within defined service areas and to multiple 
subscribers multiple-channel community antennae or cable television and 
delivering programs of broadcast television stations and/or other program 
providers. 
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b) Cable Television Operator - refers to any person granted a Provisional 
Authority or a Certificate of Authority as provided in this Act, and is actually 
providing cable television service to its subscribers. 


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c) Cable Television Service - includes services rendered by a cable 
television operator for a fee, such as: 
i) One or two-way transmission to subscribers of video programs and other 
audio-visual programs; and 
ii) Subscriber interaction or selection of video programs and other 
audiovisual 
services but excludes:· 
a) Re~transmission of television signals of one or more television 
broadcast stations; and 
b) A cable televi~ion facility that serves fewer than fifty (50) 
at any given time. 
d) Commission - refers to the National Telecommunications Commission. 
SEC. 4. Ownership and Control- The ownership, control and operation of 
cable television systems in the Philippines which are considered as content 
providers, such as those that produce their own content or programs or originate 
their own opinions, shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines, or to corporations, 
cooperatives or associations wholly-owned and managed by such citizens. 
However, the ownership, control and operation of cable television systems 
which are merely network providers, such as those who neither produce their own 
content or programs nor or,iginate ~heir own opinions but only own the cable 
television network or infrastructure, shall be open to all citizens of the Philippines, 
corporations, cooperatives, associations, joint ventures organized under Philippine 
laws at least sixty percent (60%) of the capital of which is owned and controlled by 
citizens of the Philippines. 
SEC. 5. Regulation and Supervision of the Cable Television Industry.-
The regulation and supervision of the cable television industry in the Philippines is 
hereby vested in the National Telecommunications Commission. 
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SEC. 6. Powers and Duties Wf~e Commission. - The Commission shall 
have the following powers and dutie~\ '; 
i 
a) To issue, suspend and revoke Certificates of Authority or Provisional 
Authority, licenses, permits and other authorization in the exercise of its regulatory 
and supervisory powers under this Act. 
b) To promulgate, upon approval of the Secretary of Transportation and 
Communication, rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act; 
c) To hear, investigate and decide all questions., controversies or disputes 
arising out of or in connection with the operation of cable television systems in the 
country and impose penalties and 'other sanctions on Violations of the provisions of 
this Act and its implementing wles and regulations; 
d) To issue subpoenas, require the production of books, papers, records 
and other documents as may be necessary in the resolution of any matter under 
its consideration; and, 


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e) To prosecute violations of the provIsions of this Act, rules and 
regulations, orders and other issuance promulgated by the Commission in the 
implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 7. Legislative Franchise and Certificate of Authority. - Any person, 
Association or corporation who shall insta'il and moderate a cable television 
system, or render cable television service for a fee on a nation-wide or region-wide 
basis, shall be required to obtain and secure a franchise from the Congress of the 
Philippines and a Certificate of Authority from the Commission: Provided, That 
municipal or provincial cable television systems operators shall be required to 
obtain and secured the necessary local government permit or franchise from the 
appropriate local government authority as well as a Certificate of Authority from 
the Commission. 
A cable television system shall be considered to be operated on a nation-
wide basis if the system is intended to be installed and operated to service at least 
three (3) regions, or at least three (3) provinces in separate regions. It shall be 
considered to be operated on a region-wide basis if the system is intended to be 
installed and operated to serve in at least three (3) provinces in the region. 
Any person, association or corporation who shall install and operate a cable 
television system, or render cable television service for a fee within a muniCipality, 
city or province shall be required to obtain a Certificate of Authority from the 
Commission. 
A Certificate of Authori,ty to ,operate a cable television system shall be 
issued in favor of an applicant legally, technically and financially capable of 
providing cable television service for a period offlfteen (15) years from the date of 
its issuance and subject to such other terms and conditions the Commission may 
reasonably impose. 
Pending the grant or issuance of the Certificate of Authority, the 
Commission may issue a Provisional Authority to operate a cable television 
system, likewise subject to the terms and conditions the Commission may 
reasonably impose, which shall ripen into a Certificate of Authority two (2) years 
from the date of issuance, unless earlier revoked by the Commission for valid 
cause. 
SEC. 8. Non-Exclusivity. - The Commission may grant to an applicant-
operator the authorization to operate a cable television system within the same 
franchise area covered by a Certificate of Authority or by a Provisional Authority 
issued to another operator two (2) years earlier, upon determination by the 
Commission that: 
a) The prior cable television operator has not substantially complied with 
the terms and conditions of his authorization; 
b) The cable television service currently provided by the operator to its 
subscriber is sub-standard, inefficient and/or inadequate; and/or 
c) The prior cable television operator has unreasonably and unjustifiably 
refused or failed to comply with the terms and conditions of its authorization or the 
orders, issuance or regulations promulgated by the Commission. 


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SEC. 9. Revocation of Authorization. - The Commission shall, motu 
propio or on complaint of an interested party, upon notice and after due hearing, 
revoke the authority granted to a cable television operator, if the Commission 
determines that said cable television operator: 
a) Has not commenced the commercial operation of its cable television 
system as provided for in its authorization after two (2) years from the date of 
issuance of the authorization; . 
b) Has ceased the commercial operation of its cable television system; 
c) Provides its subscribers services below the standards prescribed by law; 
d) Has engaged in business practices detrimental to healthy competition 
within the industry; and 
e) Has unreasonably and unjustifiably refused or failed to comply with the 
terms and conditions of its authorization or the orders, issuance or regulations 
promulgated by the Commission 
SEC. 10. Right of Easement - Duly authorized cable television operators 
shall have the right-of-way granted to existing public utilities and dedicated to 
compatible uses: Provided, That the cable television operator shall ensure that: 
a) The owner of the property subject of the easement is justly compensated 
for the servitude and damag~$pcaused"by the installation, operation or removal of 
its cable television facilities. 
b) The function, appearance and safety of the property subject to the 
easement and the convenience and safety of other users and the general public 
are not adversely affected, and 
c) The expenses of installation, operation or removal of such facilities are 
borne by the cable television operator exercising the right of easement: Provided, 
further, That the rate of annual fees to be paid by the cable television operator in 
compensation to the owner of the property subject of the easement shall be fixed 
by the Commission. 
SEC. 11. Lease of Excess Capacity. - A cable television operator may, 
with the approval of the Commission, lease or sub-lease the excess capacity of its 
cable television system, but may not utilize such excess capacity in, or in any 
manner engage, in'broadcast or telecommunications or other non-cable television 
services without securing the appropriate legislative franchise and authority from 
the Commission. 
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SEC. 12. Advertisements. - Cable television service may include and carry 
public announcements, notices and advertisements and other similar segment, not 
exceeding five (5) minutes pElr hour of program, in addition to insertions by foreign 
programmers. 
SEC. 13. Carriage of Commercial Television Signal. - A cable television 
operator may carry on its ,cable television system the signals of commercial 
televisions stations free of charges. 


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SEC. 14. Payment of Taxes. - A cable television operator shall be subject 
to the payment of taxes under the National Revenue Code, as amended. 
SEC. 15. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts are hereby declared 
unlawful: 
a) No cable television operator shall engage in any television broadcast or 
telecommunication activity unless duly licensed for the purpose. 
b) No cable television operator shall receive and distribute encoded or un-
encoded satellite program signals without the written authorization of the 
concerned satellite programmer; 
c) No person shall intercept or receive, or assist in intercepting or receiving, 
any service offered over a cable television system by tapping, making or causing 
to be made any unauthorized connection to existing cable television facilities, with 
drop, feeder and truck lines, or by the recording, manufacture, distribution, 
importation or sale of intercepted or received cable television signals; and 
d) No person shall knowingly use or receive any direct or indirect benefit 
from any cable television service through any of the prohibited acts enumerated in 
the preceding paragraphs. 
SEC. 16. Penalties., - ,,~r)y ,person, including directors and officers of 
corporations, who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of this Act or 
commits any of the prohibited acts in the preceding section shall be punished by a 
fine not less than fifty thousand pesos (P50,OOO.00) but not more than three 
hundred thousand pesos (P300,OOO.00) or an imprisonment term of not less than 
one (1) year but not more than three (3) years, or both. 
SEC. 17. Repealing Cause. - Pertinent provisions of Executive Order No. 
205 and all other laws, decrees, regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately upon approval. 
Approved, 
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