Madaling nakalusot! House grants franchise to ABS-CBN critic

By Billy Begas

The House of Representatives has approved the legislative franchise of one of the detractors of ABS-CBN Corp.

With 197 affirmative votes, no negative and two abstention, the House approved the House Bill 8972 granting FICTAP Telecommunications Inc., a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain telecommunication services within the Philippines and with international points.

The franchise will allow FICTAP to use “wired and wireless telecommunications systems including mobile, international and local exchange carrier, international gateway facilities or services, international and domestic submarine cable landing stations, cooper, fiber optics, coaxial cable, stations and associated equipment for international satellite communications, and their value-added services such as transmission of voice, data, facsimile, control signs, audio and video, information services, and all other telecommunications systems technologies as are present available or will be made available through the technological advances or innovations in the future, or construct, acquire, lease, and operate or manage transmitting and receiving stations, lines, cables, or systems as are convenient or essential to efficiently carry out the purpose of this franchise”.

For the purpose of erecting and maintaining poles or other support for wires or other conductors, the measure gave FICTAP the authority to excavate or lay conduits in any of the public places, road, highway, street, lane, alley, avenue, sidewalk, or bridges with prior approval of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units concerned.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchise chaired by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez submitted the committee report and the substitute bill to the House Rules Committee on March 10.

The measure was approved on March 17 and on third reading on March 25. It was already transmitted to the Senate.

Columnist Victor Agustin said FICTAP stands for the Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Association of the Philippines, one of those who opposed the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise citing several violations.

During the hearing of ABS-CBN’s franchise last year, a FICTAP official said that ABS-CBN violated its franchise when it offered paid products including the TV plus digital box.

ABS-CBN was also questioned for operating six channels using a single franchise.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)