Sunday, April 14, 2024

Tag: NTC

5 NorMin radio stations face closure over expired franchise

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (November 28, 2023, 8:55 pm) – Five radio stations in Northern Mindanao are subject to a cease and desist order (CDO) after their franchises were not renewed

National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) – Region 10 Director Teodoro Buenavista Jr. said their recent decision called for the closure of the five radio stations under the Fairwaves Broadcasting Network here.
“Fairwaves applied for renewal in 2018, but the House of Representatives did not move it from the committee level,” Buenavista said in an interview on Tuesday.
Fairwaves first obtained its 25-year franchise in 1995 under Republic Act 8113.
An earlier NTC decision this year recommended the recall of the frequencies assigned to Fairwaves.
The decision listed 30 stations under Fairwaves all over the country, including in this city, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon.
Most station names under Fairwaves carry the station name Radyo Bandera.
On Nov. 24, Radyo Bandera Iligan was among the 14 business establishments locked down by the local government for allegedly operating without business permits.
Jeoffrey Baconga, manager at DXFI FM Radyo Bandera in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, said their operations will not be affected by the CDO because the network is now under an agreement with a new franchise operator, Palawan Broadcasting.
He said the chief executive officer of the Radyo Bandera network, Sultan Lope, is aware of the NTC decision.
Baconga added that all Bandera stations are expected to operate under Palawan Broadcasting and no longer under Fairwaves. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

NTC leads SIM reg in remote Bukidnon villages

Posted on by cmn

PANGANTUCAN, Bukidnon — Over 300 villagers, mainly from the town’s outlying areas, registered their SIM cards, on January 25, in Pangantucan, Bukidnon, as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)-10, in partnership with Globe, Smart, and DITO telcos, launched the Facilitated Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration

This is part of the government’s nationwide SIM registration campaign, which aims to serve people living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Mayor Miguel A. Silva Jr. of Pangantucan town said SIM registration would solve the town’s problem of anonymous death threats.

“Extortion is one of the problems here in town. The blackmailer’s ploy is to demand a certain amount. If you don’t give them [extortionists] the required sum, you will receive a death threat from an unknown texter or caller,” the mayor said.

Engr. Joel Siladan, NTC-10’s Enforcement and Operations Division chief, explained that all used SIMs must be registered before the deadline to avoid SIM deactivation.

“All SIMs must be registered for continuous use because all unregistered SIMs will be electronically deactivated after the deadline, which is April 26,” Siladan said.

Atty. Joanne Marie Pacuribot of NTC-10 also emphasized that there is no penalty for unregistered SIM cards, but these will be automatically deactivated by the telecommunications companies (telcos).

Annabella Talaugon, one of those who completed the SIM card registration process, thanked the NTC for the opportunity.

“Salamat NTC sa gihatud nga serbisyo aron marehistro ang akong SIM card. Kadaghan na man gud ko nag-try sa online pero di gyud ko makasulod kay hinay kaayo ang signal didto sa among barangay. (Thank you, NTC, for allowing me to register my SIM card. I tried going online several times but was unable to connect because the signal in our barangay is extremely slow),” Talaugon said. (BGE/PIA-10/Bukidnon)