Updates from My Desk
By Leo S. Wong
The Signal Theft Bill: Since the public hearing at the Senate held in August 2009, no developments were heard on the proposed bill that would criminalize the pilferage of cable television signals by non-paying signal thieves. At that hearing, we stressed how important it is to cable operators and to the industry in general for a law to be enacted penalizing signal theft. It was pointed out that on a national scope, it is estimated that there is at least one signal thief for every one legally paying cable subscriber. From this estimate, the extent of revenue losses to operators from cable thieves would be enormous. After that hearing, we were given the impression that the bill had a good chance of being passed by the Senate and would finally become law, with a counterpart bill having been previously passed by the House of Representatives. There was ample time then from that public hearing, before the election season would start to set in later in the year. Despite succeeding repeated follow-ups, all we got are cold answers that could be summed up like: we will call you once the bill will be calendared for further deliberation. At this time, it appears realistically that the signal theft bill would not be passed by the present Congress. We cannot help but feel truly disappointed with this development, considering the amount of time and effort expended to have it passed.
The MTRCB Fee Issue: The PCTA feels that the tipping point may have been reached on the issue of MTRCB annual registration fees being collected from cable television operators. The time may have come to take concrete action to question before a proper forum whether the MTRCB has indeed valid basis to impose said fees. Cable operators increasingly assert that the agency has no, and should not have, control or supervision over cable television operations. PD 1986, as the charter of the MTRCB, essentially defined its scope of authority to screening, review, and classification works on motion pictures, and television programs. Cable television service is separate and distinct from broadcast television, as enunciated under E.O.436 dated September 1997, is a mere delivery platform redistributing non-original program content to paying subscribers in a defined service area. Moreover, the MTRCB was able to collect registration fees from cable operators on the strength of a tripartite agreement between NTC, MTRCB, and the defunct VRB that was entered into in 1997. That agreement required operators to register with MTRCB before they can be granted permits to operate from the NTC. Since the creation of the OMB replacing the VRB, no similar tripartite agreement was in place. Accordingly, we are now asking cable operator members that when paying the MTRCB registration fees for the coming calendar years, that they do so under protest. Paying in protest would open the possibility of future refunds in case, and that's a big in case, the matter is resolved with finality in favor of cable operators.
PCTA MOA with PPCRV-Namfrel: The PCTA would be entering into a MOA with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) for the purpose of promoting public education and awareness towards attaining a clean and meaningful election in 2010. The PCTA is encouraging its members to contribute to this noble endeavor by providing free airtime in their respective community channels for PPCRV public announcements and information campaigns on election-related developments. The association feels the need to contribute, in a non-partisan manner, a meaningful part toward helping voters of our country elect responsible leaders. The PCTA would be communicating its requests soon to its members on this worthwhile endeavor.
Coming 2010 Cable Convention: The PCTA is heightening its preparations for the coming PCTA Cable Convention at the SMX Convention Center on March 16-19, 2010. The over-all convention chairman, Arnel Merilleno, despite being a novice director, together with the other members of the convention committee, are working very hard in trying to match what was attained during the previous conventions. It is not easy to hold and organize an event of this size. Cable operators are exhorted not to miss this opportunity to learn more about industry developments at the sessions, as well as socialize and have fun at the parties that we can only experience in this once-a-year cable industry event.
So we hope to see you soon.
