Pursuant to the Provisions of Act 3846, as amended, and of Executive Order No. 546, the following rules and regulations governing the Registration and Licensing of Satellite Earth Television Receive only Station (TVRO) in the Philippines, are hereby promulgated.

SECTION 1. Definition of Terms

1.1 Satellite Television Receive Only (TVRO) Station - station whereby sound and video signals are received directly from a satellite.

1.2    Non-Commercial TVRO (NC-TVRO) Station -

1.2.1        A TVRO station intended for personal receiving only by an individual and his immediate family members.

1.2.2        TVRO stations operated by government agencies, instrumentalities or offices, provided no fees are charged or collected from the public.

1.2.3        TVRO stations owned/operated by foreign government, entities, UN agencies provided use is limited to their premises only.

1.3    Commercial TVRO (C-TVRO) Station - a TVRO station intended for operation in consideration of monetary or material gain.

1.4    Registration Certificate - a certificate issued by the NTC authorizing the holder to operate a TVRO station.

1.5    TVRO Station License - a written authority issued by the NTC to a person, firm, company, association, or corporation authorizing the holder to operate a commercial TVRO station during the period specified in the said instrument or authorization.

SECTION 2.       General Provisions -

2.1    The operation of a Non-Commercial TVRO station requires a Registration Certificate from the NTC.

2.2    The operation of a commercial TVRO station requires a TVRO station license.

2.3    The Commission shall register only equipment that are type approved/type accepted by the Commission.

2.4    The use of received program materials by TVRO stations shall be subject to the existing domestic and international copyright laws applicable thereto.

2.5    A one-time registration fee shall be paid by a non-commercial and commercial TVRO station in the amount of P5,000.00.

2.6    A commercial TVRO shall pay an annual license fee of P2,000.00. Said TVRO license may be renewed by filing an application 60 days prior to the expiry date of the license.

SECTION 3.       Accreditation of Dealers, Suppliers and Manufacturer and Service Centers of TVRO Equipment -

3.1    In order to protect the public, the Commission shall accredit dealers, suppliers and manufacturers, and service centers in accordance with MC 2-05-88 and all laws, rules and regulations.

SECTION 4.       Procedures for Registration of TVRO Stations -          

4.1    Applicant shall apply for a Registration Certificate/License from the Commission (NTC) or any of its Regional Office by accomplishing the forms provided for the purpose.

4.2    The grantee of Registration certificate or TVRO station license shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations, in so far as technical programming and such other requirements and conditions that the Commission may impose.

SECTION 5.       Posting of Registration Certificate - The Posting of Registration Certificate or TVRO station license on a conspicuous place near the premise of a TVRO station is required.

SECTION 6.       Inspection of TVRO Stations -

6.1    The Commission reserves the right to conduct inspections/investigation of the TVRO station during reasonable hours of the day.

6.2    The Commission further reserves its right to suspend or revoke the registration certificate of any TVRO station found in violation of the rules and regulations of the Commission.

SECTION 7.       Sanctions -

1.      Any TVRO station found to be operating in violation of any laws, rules and regulations of the Commission or without a valid Registration Certificate and or TVRO station license shall be closed, suspended, removed, or rendered non-operational.

2.      Furthermore, any person, firm, corporation, or association who shall violate any provision of this Circular or any provision of the Radio Laws and Regulations, both local and international shall be imposed in addition to the above a fine of not more than P2,000 for individual and not more than P5,000 for company or corporation.

The Commission may revise or amend this circular as the need arises in the interest of the public service.

This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation, and upon submission of at least three (3) copies hereof to the University of the Philippines Law Center.

Adopted: 23 July 1992

(Sgd.) MARIANO E. BENEDICTO II
Commissioner