Wednesday, 24 April 2013 05:27 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law Republic Act No. 10515
otherwise known as the "Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping
Act of 2013" that is aimed at protecting the cable television and cable
internet industries from cable pilferage.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced during the regular
press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday that the Chief Executive signed the
law last April 17, 2013.
The law prohibits cable television and internet tapping and penalizes
offenders with imprisonment of two to five years or a fine of P50,000 to
P100,000 or both, at the discretion of the court.
If the offender is a corporation or association, the president, manager,
managing partner or any officer of the corporation or partnership who
directly participated in the violation of the Act shall be held liable.
With the President’s signing of the law, illegal tapping of any signal
offered over cable television (CATV) or cable internet system and the
malicious destruction or removal of existing CATV or cable internet
facilities will be prohibited.
The law also prohibits recording, reproducing, distributing, importing or
selling of any intercepted or received CATV system/network signals for
commercial purposes without the authority of the concerned CATV or cable
internet service provider.
"The State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector,
encourages private enterprise, and provides incentives to needed
investments. Pursuant thereto, this Act aims to protect the Cable
Television and Cable Internet Industries from cable pilferage," the
President said.
Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, the National
Telecommunications Commission (NTC) shall undertake an information
dissemination campaign to inform the public of the existence of this Act.
"The NTC, in consultation with CATV and Cable Internet Service Providers
and other affected parties, shall, within sixty (60) days after the conduct
of public hearings which must commence within thirty (30) working days upon
the effectivity of this Act, issue the implementing rules and regulations
to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the provisions of
the Act," the Chief Executives said.
"If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provisions not
otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting," he said.
"All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders, letters of
instruction, administrative orders, rules or regulations contrary to, or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified
or amended accordingly," he said.
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
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