In accordance with Act 3846, as amended, and to conserve and effectively manage the radio frequency spectrum which is a limited national resource, the following guidelines shall be observed in the evaluation of applications for authority to establish, operate, and maintain a private commercial radio communications network:

1.0 Priority Services/Activities - Only private commercial radio communications network intended for use in conjunction with the following services/activities shall be allowed:

1. Agriculture, food production and food processing, animal farms, poultry farms, aquaculture, fishing, fruit plantations, canneries, and activities related thereto.
   
   
2. Logging, mining, forestry, oil exploration and ore prospecting and similar activities.
   
   
3. Public Utilities such as power generation and distribution, gas, water, and water utilities and maintenance of public utility facilities including public telecommunications facilities (common carrier)
   
   
4. Land Transportation such as taxis, buses, trucks, railway services, freight forwarding, and transport services specifically for highly perishable items such as food and agricultural and/or aquatic products and including transport services for hazardous chemicals.
   
   
5. Public Safety particularly, emergency services (fire, police, paramedic teams, and hospital ambulances) and including hospitals and clinics and the Red Cross, security agencies including armored car security services.
   
   
6. Press and Mass Media both broadcast and print media.
   
   
7. Banking and financial institutions and real estate development.
   
   
8. Construction companies and/or contractors involved in the provision of electrical, plumbing, telecommunications, electronics, and industrial works.
   
   
9. Industries and business concerns with operations.
   
   
10. Industries and business concerns with operations outside the main urban centers and the operations of which promote employment and countryside development provided, however, that the private radio networks will only be allowed within the areas of operations in the remote areas and to and from the remote areas of operation and the central and/or regional offices.
    
    
11. Religious organizations, charitable institutions as well as civic action organizations particularly those involved in missions in remote areas and in the provinces provided that such radio network shall only be limited to provide service within their respective remote areas of operation and to and from the remote areas of operation and the main and/or regional offices.

2.0 General Qualifications - Applicants for private radio communications networks must be:

1. Filipino or in the case of a company or corporation such must be either 100% Filipino or with at least 60% Filipino shareholders and 40% foreign shareholders.
   
   
2. A legitimate business concern in any one of the activities and/or services specified in 1.0 above, as evidenced by the appropriate business licenses, certificates of business registration in the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or the Bureau of Domestic Trade.

3.0       Technical/Personnel Requirements

1. Only duly type-approved/accepted equipment shall be allowed for use any private radio communications network which may be authorized by the Commission in accordance with the criteria and/or conditions specified in these guidelines.
   
   
2. Private radio communications networks shall be established in accordance with sound engineering practice and in accordance with the operational parameters including the mode of operation (whether simplex or duplex) as determined by the Commission ™s Frequency Management Division.
   
   
3. All Fixed/Base stations shall be operated by at least a 2nd Class Radio Telephone Operator. For private radio communications networks with six (6) or more Fixed/Base Stations, the supervision of a duly licensed Electronics and Communications Engineer shall be required in accordance with D.O. No. 88.

Any provisions of existing rules and regulations in conflict herewith are hereby deemed revoked.

The Commission may revise, amend or revoke this Circular or impose additional requirements as the need arises in the interest of public service.

This circular takes effect immediately.

Adopted: 15 Aug. 1991

(Sgd.) JOSEFINA T. LICHAUCO
Commissioner, NTC