Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10820)
The franchise is renewed for twenty-five (25) years from the effectivity of RA No. 10820.
The Corporation is authorized to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain commercial radio and/or television broadcasting stations throughout the Philippines including digital television systems and related technologies.
The grantee must secure the appropriate permits and licenses from the NTC and cannot use any radio/television frequency without NTC authorization.
The franchise will be deemed ipso facto revoked if the grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years or fails to comply with certain conditions like nonacceptance of the franchise or failure to report change of ownership.
The grantee shall not sell, lease, transfer, or assign the franchise or rights without prior approval of Congress. Failure to report such changes within 60 days renders the franchise revoked.
The grantee must offer at least 30% of its outstanding capital stock to Filipino citizens or implement other methods encouraging public participation in public utilities within five years from the commencement of operations.
The grantee must provide public service time, ensure sound and balanced programming, avoid obscene or indecent material, false information, or incitement to subversive acts.
The President may temporarily take over, suspend, or authorize government use of the stations during war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, or disturbances of peace upon due compensation to the grantee.
A fine of five hundred pesos (P500.00) per working day of noncompliance is imposed and collected by the NTC separate from other penalties.
The grantee must not censor before broadcast but must cut off speech or content inciting treason, rebellion, sedition, or containing indecent or immoral language or themes during broadcast; failure to do so is a ground for franchise cancellation.