NTC drafts guidelines vs cable TV pilferage

MANILA, Philippines - State-run National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued the draft implementing rules and regulations of the anti-cable television and cable internet tapping law to boost the government’s campaign against cable pilferage.

Based on the draft guidelines of Republic Act No. 10515, otherwise known as the “Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act of 2013,” violators would face imprisonment and monetary fines.

Violators would be meted a penalty of imprisonment of not less than two years but not more than five years or a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P100,000 or both, under the provision on penalties.

The guidelines also state that the president, manager, managing partner, or any officer of the corporation or partnership who directly participated in the violation would be held liable if the offender is a corporation or an organization.

The law prohibits illegal tapping, interconnection or reception of signal or service offered by cable television (CATV) or cable internet system providers by tapping or making any connection to an existing without the authority of the connected CATV or cable internet service provider.

It also prohibits the recording, reproduction, distribution, and selling of any intercepted or received CATV or cable internet network signals without the authority of the provider and prevents the use of any direct or indirect benefit from any CATV or cable internet network.

The NTC said the presence of drop cable, feeder or trunk lines from the CATV or cable internet network to the structures and facilities of unauthorized person not being a duly registered subscriber would constitute as a prima facie evidence of illegal connection.

Another prima facie evidence is the unauthorized tapping of drop cable, feeder or trunk lines or the unauthorized installation of electronic equipment such as digital or analog receiver-decoder boxes, set-top and converter boxes or modems by unauthorized person.

The guidelines would allow CATV and cable internet system providers to immediately disconnect illegal connections as long as there is due notice and at the same time the public prosecutor could immediately hold preliminary investigation after the subsequent filing in court of the pertinent information.

President Aquino signed the law last April 17 to protect the cable television and cable internet industries from cable pilferage.

The Philippine Cable Television Association Inc. (PCTA) welcomed the signing of the law that it has been pushing since 2006.

PCTA president Allan Dungao said in his report that the group’s biggest achievement was the passage of the law as major players expect the industry to grow.

“All of us can now sigh with relief. I remember that we started working and pushing for this law in 2006 on my first term as president of PCTA because I believed then, and I still do now, that the cable industry will grow and revenues will increase once we have this law,” Dungao said.

He added that the industry would help the NTC craft the guidelines.

“The Cable Theft Law is very significant for all of us is the cable TV industry – not only do we finally have the protection of the law, but equally important, is the recognition of our cable TV industry’s important role and contribution to our nation’s progress,” he said.