QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 11253)
RA 11253 extends the grantee’s existing franchise under RA 8061 for another 25 years, allowing it to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain radio and/or television broadcasting stations (including digital TV) and related broadcast/distribution services in the Philippines.
The extension is counted for another 25 years from the effectivity of RA 11253.
It must operate and construct its stations in a manner that results only in minimum interference on existing wavelengths/frequencies, without diminishing its own privilege to use its assigned wavelengths/frequencies and the quality of transmission/reception.
The grantee must secure appropriate permits and licenses from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and must not use any frequency in the radio/TV spectrum without NTC authorization.
The NTC shall not unreasonably withhold or delay the grant of authority.
The grantee may not dispose or lease its facilities except to entities with a radio or television broadcasting franchise.
The grantee must inform and secure written authorization to proceed from the NTC and report the transaction to the NTC within 60 days after completion.
It must provide free adequate public service time (up to a maximum aggregate of 10% of paid commercials/advertisements) for government announcements on important issues, sound and balanced programming, public participation, functions of public information/education, audience sensibility (including closed captioning), and it must not broadcast obscene/indecent content or deliberately false information/willful misrepresentation, or content inciting treason/rebellion/sedition.
As a maximum aggregate of 10% of paid commercials or advertisements, allocated based on need to the executive, legislative, judiciary, constitutional commissions, and international humanitarian organizations duly recognized by statutes.
The NTC shall increase the public service time, and the NTC issues rules and regulations for this purpose.
In times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order, the President may temporarily take over and operate the stations, temporarily suspend operation for public safety/security/welfare, or authorize temporary government use/operation upon due compensation.
It is deemed ipso facto revoked if the grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years.
No. The grantee shall not require any previous censorship, but it must still cut off airing if the content tends to incite treason/rebellion/sedition or is indecent/immoral; willful failure to do so is a valid cause for cancellation.
If the speech/play/act/scene constitutes a violation of law or infringes a private right, the grantee is free from any liability (civil or criminal) for such content, subject to the obligation to cut off incitement/indecency as provided.
The grantee shall hold national, provincial, city, and municipal governments free from claims/liabilities/demands/actions arising from accidents causing injury to persons or damage to properties during construction or operation of the stations.
The grantee must create employment opportunities and allow on-the-job trainings, prioritizing residents where its principal office is located, comply with labor standards under existing labor laws, and reflect employment/jobs created in the Securities and Exchange Commission General Information Sheet (GIS) annually.
The grantee must not do such transactions (or merge/transfer controlling interest) without prior approval of Congress; Congress must also be informed within 60 days after completion, and failure to report results in ipso facto revocation.