Telecommunications in the Philippines

Republic Act No. 7925 otherwise known as the Public Telecommunications Policy of the Philippines sets the framework in the regulation of public telecommunications in the country. Among others, the law provides the following:

Sec. 3. Definitions and Interpretations. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be used:

a) Telecommunications - any process which enables a telecommunications entity to relay and receive voice, data, electronic messages, written or printed matter, fixed or moving pictures, words, music or visible or audible signals or any control signals of any design and for any purpose by wire, radio or other electromagnetic, spectral, optical, or technological means.

b) Public telecommunications entity - any person, firm, partnership or corporation, government or private, engaged in the provision of telecommunications services to the public for compensation.

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Sec. 16. Franchise. - No person shall commence or conduct the business of being a public telecommunications entity without first obtaining a franchise.

The Commission, in granting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), may impose such conditions as to duration and termination of the privilege, concession, or standard or technical aspects of the equipment, rates, or service, not contrary to the terms of the franchise. In no case, however, shall the CPCN be shorter than five (5) years, nor longer than the life of the franchise. A CPCN expiring at the same time as the franchise shall be deemed to have been renewed for the same term if the franchise itself is also renewed or extended.