Section 1. A new
section is hereby inserted between sections one and two of Act Numbered
Thirty-eight hundred and forty-six, as amended, to read as follows:
"Section 1-A. No person, firm, company, association
or corporation shall possess or own radio transmitters or transceivers
(combination transmitter receiver), without registering the same with
the Secretary of Commerce and Industry, nor sell or transfer the same
to another without his prior approval, and no person, firm, company,
association or corporation shall construct or manufacture, or purchase
radio transmitters or transceivers without a permit issued by the
Secretary of Commerce and Industry."
Sec. 2. Section s three, twelve, as amended, and
thirteen of the same Act are hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 3. The Secretary of Commerce and Industry is
hereby empowered to regulate the construction or manufacture,
possession, control, sale and transfer of radio transmitters or
transceivers (combination transmitter receiver) and the establishment,
use and operation of all radio stations and of all forms of radio
communications and transmissions within the Philippines. In addition to
the above, he shall have the following specific powers and duties:
"(a) He shall prescribe rules and regulations
covering the construction and manufacture, possession, purchase, sale
or transfer of radio transmitters or transceivers;
"(b) He shall classify radio stations and prescribe
the nature of the services to be rendered by each class and by each
station within any class;
"(c) He shall assign call letters and assign
frequencies for each station licensed by him and for each station
established by virtue of a franchise granted by the Congress of the
Philippines and specify the stations to which each of such frequencies
may be used;
"(d) He shall promulgate rules and regulations to
prevent and eliminate interference between stations and carry out the
provisions of this Act and the provisions of the International Radio
Regulations: Provided, however, That changes in the frequencies or in
the authorized power, or in the character of emitted signals, or in the
type of the power supply, or in the hours of operations of any licensed
station, shall not be made without first giving the station licensee a
hearing;
"(e) He may establish areas or zones to be served by
any station;
"(f) He may promulgate rules and regulations
applicable to radio stations engaging in chain broadcasting;
"(g) He may promulgate rules and regulations
requiring stations to keep record of traffic handled, distress
frequency watches, programs, transmission of energy, communications or
signs;
"(h) He may conduct such investigations as may be
necessary in connection with radio matters and hold hearings; summon
witnesses, administer oaths and compel the production of books, logs,
documents, and papers, and he may examine the books or persons,
companies or associations engaged in the construction or manufacture of
radio transmitters or transceivers, or of merchants dealing in the
purchase and sale of radio equipment;
"(i) He may prescribe rules and regulations to be
observed by radio training schools; he may supervise the course and
method of instruction therein; and he may refuse to admit to
examinations for radio operator's licenses graduates of radio schools
not complying with the regulations;
"(j) He shall prescribe rates of charges to be paid
to the Government for the inspection of stations, for the licensing of
stations, for the examination of operators, for the licensing of
operators, for the renewal of station or operator license, and for
other services as may be rendered;
"(k) He is hereby empowered to approve or to
disapprove any application for the construction, installation,
establishment or operation of a radio station;
"(l) He may approve or disapprove any application for
renewal of station or operator license: Provided, however, That no
application for renewal shall be disapproved without giving the
licensee a hearing;
"(m) He may, at his discretion, bring criminal action
against violators of the radio laws or the regulations and confiscate
the radio apparatus in case of illegal operation; or simply suspend or
revoke the offender's station or operator licenses or refuse to renew
such licenses; or just reprimand and warn the offenders;
"(n) The location of any station and the power and
kind or type of apparatus to be used shall be subject to his approval;
"(o) He shall prescribe rules and regulations to be
observed by stations for the handling of SOS messages and distress
traffics: Provided, That such rules and regulations shall not conflict
with the provisions of the International Radio Regulations.
"Section 12. Any person who shall violate any
provision of this Act, or any regulation prescribed by the Secretary of
Commerce and Industry under this Act, or of any provision of the
International Radio Regulations, shall be punished by a fine of not
more than two thousand pesos or by imprisonment of not more than two
years, for each and every offense, or both, in the discretion of the
court.
"Section 13. Any firm, company, corporation or
association failing or refusing to observe or violating any provision
of this Act, or any provision of the Regulations prescribed by the
Secretary of Commerce and Industry under this Act, or any provision of
the International Radio Regulations shall be punished by a fine of not
more than five thousand pesos for each and every offense."
Sec. 3. This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.
Approved: September 18, 1950
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