ON Aug. 2, 2022, The Manila Times reported that the Court of Appeals (CA) had ordered the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to comply with the directive of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to automatically approve the franchise application of News and Entertainment Network Corp. (Newsnet). This stemmed from Newsnet's application for the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain a local multipoint distribution system to deliver interactive pay television and multimedia services in South Luzon, North Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao in the 25.35 GHz-26.35 GHz frequency range with authority to charge rates, which had been pending with the NTC for six months.
According to the article, Newsnet filed a complaint before ARTA on the issue. After ARTA determined that Newsnet's application was submitted with complete requirements and payment, and therefore should be automatically approved, the NTC sought the opinion of the secretary of justice which ruled that ARTA had no jurisdiction over the NTC. However, the CA eventually granted Newsnet's petition for mandamus, which argued that the legislative intent behind the passage of Republic Act 11032, or the "Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivey Act of 2018," was to cover all government agencies, including those performing quasi-judicial and legislative functions.
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