THE ANTI-RED TAPE Authority (ARTA) automatically approved News and Entertainment Network Corporation’s (Newsnet) application to deliver interactive pay television and multimedia services.

In a declaration on Feb. 12, ARTA deemed complete the company’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience to install, operate, and maintain a local multi-point distribution system for the services.

ARTA said Newsnet had submitted all requirements the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) by Oct. 19 2018. Newsnet had also paid its required fees.

Under RA 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, applications that have not been acted on by a government office within the designated processing time are deemed automatically approved.

Automatic approvals are conditional on the submission of all required documents and payment of fees.

ARTA said Newsnet may now deliver its services to South Luzon, North Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the 25.35 GHz-26.35GHz frequency rage, with the authority to charge rates.

ARTA ordered NTC to issue the certificate of public convenience immediately, and to submit a compliance report within three days of receipt of the order.

ARTA also warned NTC that the authority will file an appropriate action if the commission fails to comply with the order.

The Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) law prescribed processing times of three working days for simple transactions, seven working days for complex transactions, and 20 working days for applications involving activities that may pose danger to the public. — Jenina P. Ibañez

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