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Whereas, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) No. 546, series of 1979, as amended, the National Telecommunications Commission (Commission) is vested with the power to establish and prescribe rules, regulations, standards, specifications in all cases related to the issuance of Certificates of Public Convenience for the operation of communication utilities and services, radio communication systems, wire or wireless telephone or telegraph systems, radio and television broadcasting systems and other similar public utilities; administer and enforce the same as well as to promulgate rules and regulations, as public safety and interest may require, to encourage a larger and more effective and efficient use of communication, radio and television broadcasting facilities and spectrum; and to maintain effective competition among private entities;

Whereas, pursuant to Commonwealth Act (CA) No. 146 (Public Service Act), as amended, the Commission is vested with the power to fix just and reasonable standards, classifications, regulations, practices, measurements or services to be furnished, imposed, observed and followed thereafter by any public service;

Whereas, in order to keep pace with the developments in technology, the introduction of digital technology in the broadcasting service would ensure the competitiveness of the broadcast industry and afford them the opportunity to provide enhanced services to better serve the viewing public;

Whereas, in order to facilitate the entry of digital broadcast services in the country and for the protection of the consuming public, there is a need to adopt a specific standard for the delivery of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services;

Wherefore, after convening a Technical Working Group (TWG) for the purpose of guiding the Commission in the re-evaluation of the latest and most appropriate and suitable DTT standard, to include the emergence of 2^nd generation DTT standards and an update on the prevailing market price of DTT set-top-boxes (STBs), among others, and upon the recommendation of the majority stakeholders of the television broadcast industry, including the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), as to the specific standard to be adopted, the Commission hereby issues this Memorandum Circular adopting the standard for DTT broadcast service:

Section 1. Definition of Terms

Section 1.1. Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) - an implementation of the digital technology in the television service intended to provide a greater number of standard definition television (SDTV) channels and/or better quality of picture (e.g. HDTV) and sound (e.g. AAC, EAC3 Dolby Digital) through a conventional aerial antenna instead of a satellite or cable connection.

Section 1.2. Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) – a flexible digital television (DTV) transmission system that is capable of providing three (3) levels of hierarchical modulation that can carry audio, video and data services to fixed, mobile and handheld terminals using single a transmission facility with an integrated Emergency Warning Broadcast System (EWBS).

Section 2. The Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (lSDB-T) standard shall be the sole standard in the delivery of DTT services in the country.

Section 3. For the purpose of drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and Frequency Planning for the implementation hereof, the Commission shall immediately convene a TWG-IRR.

Section 4. Any Circular, Order or Memorandum or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are deemed superseded and/or amended accordingly.

Section 5. If any part or provision of this Memorandum Circular is declared invalid or unconstitutional, any part or provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 6. This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation and three (3) certified true copies furnished to the UP Law Center.

(SGD) GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA Commissioner
(SGD) DELILAH F. DELES Deputy Commissioner	(SGD) CARLO JOSE A. MARTINEZ Deputy Commissioner