Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11477)
Republic Act No. 11477 renews the franchise granted to Golden Broadcast Professional, Inc. for another twenty-five years and expands its coverage to the entire Philippines to operate FM radio and television broadcasting stations.
They are authorized to operate radio and/or television broadcasting stations, including digital television systems, through microwave, satellite, or any new technology in television and radio systems.
The franchise is granted for a period of twenty-five (25) years from the effectivity of the Act, unless sooner revoked or cancelled.
The grantee must provide free public service time equivalent to a maximum aggregate of ten percent (10%) of paid commercials for government use to relay important public announcements, emergencies, and public issues.
The NTC must grant permits and licenses for operations, authorize frequency use, may revoke or suspend permits for violations after due process, and can recommend franchise revocation to Congress.
They will be fined Five hundred pesos (P500.00) per working day of noncompliance, collected by the NTC and remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury.
In times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order for public safety, security, and welfare with due compensation to the grantee.
The franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked if the grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years.
The grantee shall not sell, lease, transfer, grant the usufruct of, or assign the franchise without prior approval of Congress and must inform Congress within 60 days of the transaction. Failure to report results in ipso facto revocation.
The grantee must offer at least thirty percent (30%) of its outstanding capital stock to Filipino citizens in any securities exchange within five years, or apply other methods to encourage public participation if public offering is not applicable.