Title
Criteria for Granting Commercial Radio Licenses
Law
Ntc Memorandum Circular No. 10-8-91
Decision Date
Aug 15, 1991
NTC Memorandum Circular No. 10-8-91 establishes criteria for granting commercial radio station licenses, prioritizing services in agriculture, public safety, and utilities, while ensuring that applicants are predominantly Filipino-owned and meet specific technical and operational standards.
A

Priority Services and Activities Eligible for Licensing

  • Agriculture and related sectors: food production, animal farms, fisheries, plantations, canneries
  • Natural resources: logging, mining, forestry, oil exploration, ore prospecting
  • Public utilities: power, gas, water, telecommunications including common carriers
  • Land transportation: taxis, buses, trucks, railways, freight forwarding especially for perishable agricultural or hazardous goods
  • Public safety: emergency services (fire, police, paramedics, hospitals, Red Cross), security agencies including armored car security
  • Press and mass media: both broadcast and print
  • Banking, financial institutions, and real estate development
  • Construction and contracting companies dealing with electrical, plumbing, telecommunications, electronics, and industrial works
  • Industries and businesses operating outside urban centers that promote countryside development, but radio use limited to remote operational areas and connection with central/regional offices
  • Religious, charitable, and civic action organizations working especially in remote provinces with network use limited to their areas of operation and offices

General Qualifications for Applicants

  • Applicants must be Filipino individuals or corporations with either 100% Filipino ownership or at least 60% Filipino shareholders
  • Must be a legitimate business in one of the specified priority services or activities
  • Proper business licenses and certificates of registration from the SEC or Bureau of Domestic Trade are required

Technical and Personnel Requirements

  • Use only duly type-approved/accepted radio equipment
  • Networks must comply with sound engineering practices and operational parameters set by the Frequency Management Division of the NTC
  • Operations modes: simplex or duplex as per Commission determination
  • Fixed/Base stations require operation by at least a 2nd Class Radio Telephone Operator
  • Networks with six or more Fixed/Base stations must be supervised by a duly licensed Electronics and Communications Engineer per D.O. No. 88

Regulatory Provisions and Amendments

  • Prior conflicting rules and regulations are revoked
  • The Commission reserves the right to revise, amend, revoke, or impose additional requirements to serve the public interest
  • The memorandum circular takes immediate effect upon adoption on August 15, 1991

Legal and Administrative Authority

  • Issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), represented by Commissioner Josefina T. Lichauco
  • Implements guidelines consistent with existing laws and technical standards for private commercial radio stations in the Philippines

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