EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 307 - PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON THE ALLOCATION AND USE OF RADIO FREQUENCIES

WHEREAS, the radio frequency spectrum is a scarce public resource, and there is a need for a transparent, fair, and economically efficient procedure that shall expedite its allocation to service providers who will use it efficiently and effectively to meet public demand for telecommunications services;

WHEREAS, international 3rd Generation (“3G”) standards technology is the family of compatible mobile wireless technologies that the International Telecommunication Union has approved for terrestrial radio interface, and that will be adopted globally for full systems harmonization, resulting in considerable interest and demand for 3G spectrum frequencies; 

WHEREAS, not all 2nd Generation (“2G”) frequencies allocated by the National Radio Frequency Allocation Table (“NRFAT”) for mobile telecommunications systems have been allocated to current 2G mobile networks;

WHEREAS, under Executive Order No. 546 dated July 23, 1979, the National Telecommunications Commission (“NTC”) is vested with the functions to “grant permits for the use of radio frequencies for wireless telephone and telegraph systems and radio communication systems”, and “sub-allocate series of frequencies of bands allocated by the International Telecommunications Union to the specific services”;

WHEREAS, under NTC Memorandum Circular No. 3-3-96 (“MC 3-3-96”), the allocation of radio frequencies is subject to (a) the periodic review of the NRFAT, (b) consultation with the industry and/or affected parties, (c) consistency with the International Table of Radio Frequency Allocation, and with national priorities, (d) customer demand and radio frequency planning studies, and (e) allocations reserved for customer access services, broadcast services, maritime, aeronautical and other safety services, military and government radio stations;

WHEREAS, spectrum auctions in other countries show that well-designed auctions offer a more transparent, fair, and economically efficient option for allocating select frequencies;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, hereby direct and order, as follows:

Section 1. Institutionalizing Radio Frequency Auctions. — The radio frequency spectrum, including 3G radio frequency spectrum, and other parts of the radio frequency not yet assigned at the time of this Order’s effectivity, shall be auctioned.

Sec. 2. Formation of a Joint Committee. — A three-member committee us hereby created to promulgate policy guidelines for the auction of the above radio frequencies. The Committee shall be composed of the Commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and shall have one member from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and one from the Economic Coordinating Council (ECC), who shall serve as Chairman of said Committee.

Decisions of the Joint Committee shall be determined by a majority vote of its members.

Sec. 3. Powers and Functions of the Joint Committee. — For each of spectrum auctions, the Joint Committee shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

(a) Within sixty (60) days of this Order, promulgate bidding guidelines that will cover, among others, the following concerns:

i. Designate the actual frequencies of the license to be auctioned off

ii. Recommend to the NTC the terms and conditions of each license, as well as the number of years for which the license is granted

iii. Recommend the indicative floor price for each license;

Sec. 4. Implementation. — The NTC, the DOTC, the ECC and other appropriate government instrumentalities are hereby directed to take all the necessary steps to implement the purposes and objectives of this Executive Order.

Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. — All executive orders, administrative orders, and other executive issuances, including Memorandum Circulars from the National Telecommunications Commission, inconsistent with this order are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

Sec. 6. Effectivity Clause. — This order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 31st day of October, in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand.

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Since 19.07.98.