Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10820)
Republic Act No. 10820 renews for another twenty-five (25) years the franchise granted to Progressive Broadcasting Corporation to construct, operate, and maintain radio and/or television broadcasting stations and related facilities throughout the Philippines.
The franchise is renewed for a period of twenty-five (25) years from the effectivity of the Act.
Stations or facilities must be operated to minimize interference with wavelengths or frequencies of existing stations without diminishing the quality of its own transmissions.
The grantee must secure the appropriate permits and licenses from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and must not use any frequency without NTC authorization.
The grantee must provide public service time for government information, maintain sound and balanced programming, avoid broadcasting obscene or indecent language, deliberate false information, or content that incites subversive or treasonable acts.
The President can temporarily take over or suspend operations during times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order, 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.
No, the grantee cannot sell, lease, transfer, assign, or merge the franchise or controlling interest without prior approval of Congress; failure to report such transactions within 60 days may result in revocation of the franchise.
The grantee must offer at least thirty percent (30%) of its outstanding capital stock to Filipino citizens in any Philippine securities exchange within five (5) years from the start of operations, encouraging public participation in the utility.
The grantee must submit an annual report to Congress on compliance with franchise terms and operations before April 30 each year; failure to submit results in penalties.
A fine of five hundred pesos (P500.00) per working day of noncompliance shall be collected by the NTC from the delinquent franchisee in addition to other penalties.
No, the franchise is subject to amendment or repeal by Congress and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant of privileges.
The grantee must cut off such broadcasts immediately; failure to do so can be cause for cancellation of the franchise.
Nonacceptance of the franchise in writing within sixty (60) days from effectivity renders the franchise void.
Any advantage or privilege granted under existing or future franchises, upon Congressional approval, shall become part of this franchise and be accorded to the grantee, except for territorial coverage, franchise duration, or type of service.