SkyCable denies 'sabotage' vs GMA signal

MANILA - Cable channel provider SKY Cable Corp., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation, denied on Friday that it intentionally disrupted the signal of rival network GMA-7 during the airing of its noontime show.

In a statement, SkyCable said the complaint filed by GMA Network before the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to investigate "irresponsible acts" by the service provider does not have basis.

"The complaint of GMA-7 with the NTC last August 25, 2015, regarding shortchanging of our SkyCable subscribers via irresponsible acts, is a malicious accusation and is without basis," SkyCable said.

"If there were service interruptions that inconvenienced some of our subscribers, these were isolated and would have affected other channels, not only GMA-7," it added.

The service provider also said it is willing to cooperate with any investigation conducted by the NTC.

"To all our valued customers and stakeholders, we commit to take all necessary measures to give you the best service you deserve and continue working round-the-clock to minimize and immediately resolve any service interruptions in the future," it said.

GMA Network alleged that the signal loss experienced by its viewers violated the Revised Rules and Regulations Governing Cable Television Systems in the Philippines.

ABS-CBN is the parent company of SkyCable and ABS-CBNnews.com.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

P50-M fine pushed for erring Internet service providers

MANILA -- An administrative fine of up to P50 million is being pushed for telecommunication companies that fail to comply with directives to improve Internet services.

According to House Deputy Minority Leader and LPG-MA Rep. Arnel Ty, they are pushing for a new legislation that will significantly increase financial punishment for telcos that are unable to provide the mandatory quality of service standards.

This, following widespread consumer complaints about slow "high-speed" Internet services provided by telcos.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) currently imposes a fine of only up to P200 per day on telcos that do not meet quality benchmarks. This amount is based on the Public Service Act of 1936.

In a statement released on Sunday, Ty said broadband and high-speed Internet access should now be classified as a "basic service," similar to voice calls and text messaging.

“We are pushing for universal broadband service. Government’s goal should be to ensure that all citizens have access to high-speed Internet service at a fair price,” he said.

At present, broadband is considered a value-added service, with its speed and price dictated by the free market.

Ty previously filed House Resolution 186 calling for a congressional inquiry into the deteriorating services of telcos. He said the degrading services might be caused by "extreme congestion" in the telcos' networks.

“It would appear that telcos have been taking on an incremental number of subscribers every quarter, without building up their networks fast enough, their huge earnings notwithstanding,” Ty said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

TV5 applies for upgrade of Cagayan de Oro, Davao transmitters

MANILA – The operator of TV5 is seeking regulatory clearance to upgrade the transmitter of its very-high frequency stations in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

In a petition, ABC Development Corp. asked the National Telecommunications Commission for an increase to 20 kilowatts of its Cagayan de Oro VHF station, as well as to 30 kilowatts its Davao VHF station. Each station has a transmitting power of 10 kilowatts.

The upgrade of the Davao facility will cost P75 million, while that for Cagayan de Oro, P65 million.

TV5 expects its Cagayan de Oro station to earn P30.62 million over a five-year period after completing the upgrade. The Davao station similarly is forecast to earn P30.37 million.

TV5 plans to charge P40,000 for a 30-second advertising spot and P70,000 for a 60-second ad spot. Both stations are expected to gross P378 million in ad revenues during the five-year period, with 40 percent coming from local accounts and 60 percent from national placements.

source: interaksyon.com

Telcos still charge P1 per text, defying government order

Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular were ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to explain why they failed to lower the rate for short messaging service (SMS) to 80 centavos from P1 per text.

Glem Ecal of the NTC Public Information Office on Friday told GMA News Online that they have yet to verify if the networks already received the order, which was released on Dec. 12.

The telcos have 15 days to reply once they have received the NTC order.

[See also NTC to sue telcos for violating order to lower sms rates]

Globe maintained earlier this week that it has complied with the NTC order to reduce the SMS access charge, but a source told GMA News Online on Friday that its legal department declined to comment on the show-cause order "because it's sub judice."

Smart, Globe, and Sun informed the NTC last November that they will heed the commission's order earlier this year for the telcos to reduce the access or interconnection charge to P0.15 from P0.35.

The access charge is — among other components — part and parcel of the SMS rate, according to Globe.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Delilah Deles said last month "the new SMS access charge will take effect on their respective networks" on Nov. 30.

NTC's One-Stop Public Assistance Center said in an affidavit that they have received complaints from December 5 to 9 that the telcos were still charging P1 per text message.

After those complaints, a series of tests by the the NTC using prepaid mobile numbers from the three telcos established that the text message rates remain at P1 per SMS. — Bea Cupin/ Rose-An Dioquino/VS/HS, GMA News

source:gmanetwork.com