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NTC to register cell phones soon


Cell phone makers, dealers, and even users will soon have to register their units with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) before they can be activated. The agency has issued a new draft circular on the matter, according to Efren R. Cabanlig, NTC director for Radio Regulations and Licensing Division said. On Monday, Cabanlig said an earlier draft circular requiring all cell phones for sale to bear tamper-proof stickers did not address the objective and the more pressing problems brought about by the use of these cell phones. "Safeguards must be instituted to address the problems on smuggling, terrorism, theft, and robbery, text spams to protect the wider interest of the public which is not momentarily considered in the proposed circular," Cabanlig said. The regulator said the new draft circular titled, "Rules and Regulations for the Registration of Mobile Phones," aims to effectively monitor and control the legal entry and sources of mobile phone, to regulate the importation, sale, purchase, posession, and ownership. It also aims to deter the proliferation of illegal acts and transactions through the use of mobile phones. In a draft of that circular, the NTC said cell phone shipments would only be released from the Bureau of Customs once the importer has already registered the phones with the NTC. That would require submitting an application form, a copy of the permit to import, a bill of lading and packing list, international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), maker/type/model/serial number, and payment of corresponding registration fee. For mobile phones already bought, owners should registered their units by submitting an accomplished application form, IMEI number, maker/type/model/serial number. Owners would also have to pay a registration fee. Mobile phones being used by minors should be registered by their parents or guardians. Individuals using company-issued phones shall be responsible for registration. The registration fee for each mobile phone is P150. The NTC circular also said that the end user is required to activate its registered mobile phone by providing verifialble information to the blank information fields in the application interace of the mobile phone registration system (MPRS). Verifiable information icludes, the name of the owner, home address, IMEI number, dealer source of equipment, PIN (personal identification system) of dealer, and two identificatons. "After filling out the MPRS, the end user is then required to text to the NTC hot line number all the verifiable information to compete the process," the circular said. The circular further said penalities for the violation of the circular includes confistication of stocks, suspension, cancellation, and revocation of permits and closure of operations. The penalty for nonregistration of IMEI/maker/type/model/serial number is P5,000 per unit. Once the circular approved, all users with nonregistered mobile phones will be given six months to register their units. Suppliers, distributors, and dealers will be given three months. - GMANews.TV

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