Kintanar files bill to regulate cable TV program providers

Cebu Second District Rep. Simeon Kintanar has filed House Bill No. 6102 to regulate the operations in the country of foreign TV program providers, and protect consumers and local cable TV operators.

Michelle Sapnu, of the House of Representatives' information department, stated in a press release recently that Rep. Kintanar's bill seeks to regulate the manner, rates, and by which these programmers provide audio-visual content to the consumers and cable TV operators. The bill seeks to grant the National Telecommunications Commission, or its successor agency, the power of jurisdiction and regulation over all foreign programmers, including the power to resolve disputes between them and the local operators.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the State recognizes the essential rights to information and education to be enjoyed by the people to attain progress and development of our economy and the preservation and enrichment of our culture, according to Rep. Kintanar.

"The reality is that a substantial percentage of the mass media content disseminated throughout the country come from foreign entities," Rep. Kintanar said, adding that the government should intervene into the matter because of its effect to consumers.

Rep. Kintanar further argued that the government should impose the constitutional mandate over Filipino ownership in the telecommunications industry, as well as over intellectual property issues, said Sapnu.

Sapnu quoted Rep. Kintanar as saying: "It is time for these matters to be addressed head on in order that any and all actual and possible deleterious effects are arrested and prevented." - Garry B. Lao/RAE