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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to give protection to legitimate operators of cable television 
(CATV) systems and/or networks, and cable internet services by ensuring that 
access to such systems, networks and services will be limited only to their duly 
authorized or registered subscribers. It is meant to address the growing problem 
of signal or service theft of cable television and cable internet providers, which 
has greatly prejudiced the development and improvement of their business. 
It is the intention of this bill to safeguard the general public as well by 
improving and maintaining quality and secured service and signal as authorized 
or registered users. And concomitantly to discourage, if not eliminate, pilferage 
of such service and signal through the use of penal sanctions as provided for in 
this legislative proposal. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this proposed measure is 
sought. 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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[]CT .--b :> 3 : , ~ , k ;  
Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
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 
Be it enacted bI/ the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be referred to as "The Anti 
Cable Television and Cable Internet Pilferage Act of 2008". 
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 worldwide 
web through the CATV system/network, from unauthorized connection or 
tapping to existing facilities through wired, wireless 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. 
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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 origination, relay and reception of electronic or control signals 
of any design by wired, wireless, 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, whatever the technology. 
(b) "Cable internet system/network" refers to processes, 
including electronic equipment such as modems, associated for the 
access of the worldwide web through the facilities of the CATV 
system/network. 
(c) "Cable television (CATV) service operator" refers to any 
person, natural or juridical, 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 juridical, public or private, which was issued a registration 


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certificate as provider under existing laws, rules and regulations, to 
provide and facilitate access to the worldwide web through a CATV 
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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 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 wired or wireless faciIities with 
drop, feeder and/or trunk lines, or through the use of electronic 
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equipment such as digital or analog receiver-decoder boxes, set-top or 
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converter boxes, modems or any equivalent circumvention devices or 
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methods that allow for unauthorized access or decoding of 
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unencrypted or encrypted satellite program signals or other 
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electromagnetic 
signals, 
or 
unauthorized 
access 
into 
the 
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system/network of the cable internet service operator, or by the 
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recording, manufacture, distribution, importation or sale, of 
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(b) Engage in the unauthorized importation, sale, lease, 
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distribution or possession of electronic equipment such as digital or 
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analog receiver-decoder boxes, set-top and converter boxes, modem or 
intercepted or received CATV signals and cable internet service; 
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internet service operator; 
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 
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(c) Knowingly use or receive any direct or indirect benefit from 
CATV and cable internet service 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: 
(1) The presence of drop cable, feeder and/or trunk lines from 
the CATV or cabIe internet system/network to the structures 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; 
(2) The unauthorized tapping of the 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 
analogue receiver-decoder boxes, set-top and converter boxes, or 
modems, by persons not duly authorized by the CATV or cable 
internet service provider; 
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(3) The unauthorized possession and use of 
electronic 
equipment such as digital or analogue 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 not 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. Peimlties. - 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 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 various cable television associations in the Philippines 
shall, in a collective effort, undertake a vigorous campaign to inform the 
consuming public of the existence of this Act within sixty (60) days from its 
effectivity and at least once a year thereafter. 
SEC. 8. Rules and Regulations. - The National Telecommunications 
Commission, in consultation with various cable television associations of the 
Philippines and other affected parties, shall, within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations. 
SEC. 9. Recovery of Pilferage Losses. - Any duly authorized CATV or 
cable internet service operator may recover pilferage losses equivalent to at 
least one (1) year basic subscription fees presently charged to registered 
subscribers from such unauthorized persons found to have committed any of 
the herein prohibited acts. 
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newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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. Efictivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the 
completion of its publication in the Oficial Gazette or in any two (2) national 
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