Purpose and policy intent
- The Circular is issued to encourage a larger, more effective, and efficient use of communications, radio, and television broadcasting facilities and spectrum.
- The Circular is issued to maintain effective competition among private entities in broadcasting.
- The adoption of digital technology in broadcasting is intended to keep pace with technological developments and to enable enhanced services to better serve the viewing public.
- The adoption of a specific DTT standard is intended to facilitate entry of digital broadcast services and to protect the consuming public.
Definitions of key terms
- Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is defined as an implementation of digital technology in television service intended to provide a greater number of channels (SDTV) and/or better picture quality (HDTV) and sound (AC3, Dolby Digital) through a conventional aerial antenna instead of satellite or cable connection.
- Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) is defined as a flexible digital television (DTV) transmission system capable of providing 3 levels of hierarchical modulation (audio, video, and data services) to fixed, mobile, and handheld terminals without the need for an additional transmission facility.
Sole DTT standard adopted
- The ISDB-T standard shall be the sole standard in the delivery of DTT services in the country.
- ISDB-T is adopted as the required technical standard for DTT broadcast service implementation nationwide.
Implementation planning and TWG
- The NTC shall immediately convene a Technical Working Group – IRR (TWG-IRR) for drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and for frequency planning for implementation of the Circular.
Supersession and amendment
- Any Circular, Order, Memorandum, or portions thereof inconsistent with the Circular are deemed superseded and/or amended accordingly.