Grant of Radio Communications Franchise to Philippine Steam Navigation Co.

June 16, 1956

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1585

AN ACT GRANTING THE PHILIPPINE STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE PRIVATE FIXED POINT-TO-POINT AND LAND BASED RADIO STATIONS AND LAND MOBILE SERVICE FOR THE RECEPTION AND TRANSMISSION OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN THE PHILIPPINES

SECTION 1. There is hereby granted to the Philippine Steam Navigation Company, its successors or assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate in the Philippines, at such places as the company may select, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, private fixed point-to-point and land based radio stations and land mobile service for the reception and transmission of wireless messages on radiotelegraphy or radiotelephony. cdt

SECTION 2. The President of the Philippines shall have the power and authority to permit the location of said private fixed point-to-point and land based radio stations and land mobile service on lands of the public domain upon such terms as he may prescribe. casia

SECTION 3. The grantee shall not engage in domestic business of telecommunications in the Philippines without further special assent of the Congress of the Philippines, is being understood that the purpose of this franchise is to secure to the grantee the right to construct, install and maintain radio stations within the Philippines as the interest of the company and of its business may justify.

SECTION 4. This franchise shall continue to be in force during the time that the Government has not established similar service at the places selected by the grantee, and is granted upon the express condition that the same shall be void unless the construction or installation of said stations be begun within one year from the date of approval of this Act and be completed within two years from said date.

SECTION 5. No fees shall be charged by the grantee as the radio stations that may be established by virtue of this Act shall engage in communications regarding the grantee's business only.

SECTION 6. The grantee, its successors or assigns, shall so construct and operate its radio stations as not to interfere with the operation of other radio stations maintained and operated in the Philippines. acd

SECTION 7. The grantee, its successors or assigns, shall be subject to the corporation laws of the Philippines now existing or hereafter enacted.

SECTION 8. This franchise shall not take effect until the Secretary of Public Works and Communications shall have allotted to the grantee the frequencies and wave lengths to be used thereunder.

SECTION 9. A special right is hereby reserved to the President of the Philippines in time of war, insurrection, public peril, calamity, disaster, or disturbance of peace or order to cause the closing of the grantee's radio stations or to authorize the temporary use or possession thereof by any department of the Government, upon just compensation.

SECTION 10. The franchise granted under this Act shall not be interpreted to mean an exclusive grant of the privilege herein provided for and is subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress of the Philippines, when the public interest so requires.

SECTION 11. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 16, 1956

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 11, p. 5027 on September 15, 1956