Question & AnswerQ&A (NTC MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 3-1-91)
A Satellite Television Receive Only (TVRO) Station is a station whereby sound and video signals are received directly from a satellite.
A Non-Commercial TVRO (NC-TVRO) station is intended for personal receiving only by an individual and immediate family members or group of individuals for no monetary or material considerations. A Commercial TVRO (C-TVRO) station is operated for monetary or material considerations, such as selling, leasing, rebroadcasting, or reshowing program materials.
The construction and operation of non-commercial TVRO stations require a Registration Certificate from the NTC and a prior permit to purchase or possess the TVRO equipment.
The purchase, construction, and operation of a Commercial TVRO station require a prior permit to purchase, a permit to possess, a construction permit, and a radio station license issued by the NTC.
No, the use of any device for de-scrambling or decoding received programs by TVRO stations is prohibited unless written authority is secured from the program originator, producer, or network sending the program, or from the appropriate authority.
Individuals, groups, associations, companies, government agencies (provided no fees are charged), and foreign government entities for their premises only can apply to operate a non-commercial TVRO station, provided the use is solely for non-commercial purposes and does not involve redistribution or charging fees.
Applicants must include prior clearances and authorizations, comply with Act 3846 as amended, comply with rules imposed by the Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB) and the Movie and Television Classification and Review Board (MTCRB), and must secure written authority for taping and selling program materials from the originator or network.
The Registration Certificate for an NC-TVRO station is effective for one year but may be issued for a maximum of three years and should be renewed thirty days before expiry.
Any violation may lead to suspension, revocation, or amendment of licenses, permits, or registration certificates. Additionally, violators shall be imposed a fine ranging from not less than P2,500 to not more than P10,000 for each violation.
Fees include P300 for Non-Commercial TVRO Permit to Purchase/Possess, P5,000 per year for NC-TVRO Registration Permit, P300 application fee for Commercial TVRO, P150 for Commercial TVRO Permit to Purchase, P15,000 per year for Radio Station License, and P300 for Importation Permit.