Misamis Oriental (1 July 2020) – On May 5, 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a Cease and Desist Order (CADO) against the broadcasting company ABS-CBN due to the expiry of the legislative franchise. The expiry of the franchise would be on May 4.
As well, the NTC, on an order letter on May 4, compelled ABS-CBN to discontinue its broadcast operations – radio and television broadcasting nationwide. This issue between the network and the NTC happened again due to the former’s side of having expired Congressional Franchise license.
The NTC highlighted the Radio Control Law or the Republic Act No. 3846. In this Act, “no person, firm, company, association, or corporation shall construct, install, establish, or operate a radio transmitting station, or radio receiving station used for commercial purposes, or a radio broadcasting station, without having first obtained a franchise therefor from the Congress of the Philippines,” as echoed by the NTC.
As well, the cessation of the Republic Act. No 7966 that granted the network a 25-year contract to function and work its TV and radio broadcasting stations became real as the NTC confirmed the verdict.
Solicitor General Jose Calida succeeded in a quo warranto petition against the giant network of which he filed on May 3. He also warned the NTC to grant a provisional authority to ABS-CBN. He said that the NTC could not grant provisional authorities to ABS-CBN Corporation and its affiliate since they should secure a franchise from Congress first.
On June 29, the NTC again made a scene to stop ABS-CBN’s digital broadcast on TVPlus in Metro Manila and SKY’s satellite broadcast nationwide. The reasons why and how ABS-CBN faces its challenges and more are available at the Inquirer.Net <newsinfo.inquirer.net> and Manila Bulletin <news.mb.com.ph>.
References
Mercado, N. A. (5 May 2020). Breaking: NTC orders ABS-CBN to stop broadcast operations. Retrieved July 1, 2020, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1270074/ntc-issues-cease-and-desist-order-vs-abs-cbn
Rosario, B. (29 June 2020). NTC to stop operations of ABS-CBN TV Plus, affiliate network. Retrieved July 1, 2020, from https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/06/29/ntc-to-stop-operations-of-abs-cbn-tv-plus-affiliate-network/
