I bought a laptop from the states then sent it thru fedex. When it arrive here aside from the tax they are imposing to the laptop the customs officer said i need to pay 27000 pesos to register my laptop to ntc... what the fuck are they talking about? Why the hell do i need to register my laptop to ntc and why should the customs ask such amount for ntc registration? If you hand carry the laptop no tax not customs officer no stupid ntc registration... i think the customs officer is just looking for a way to juice a buck... if u have no connection u will fall victim to these corrupt customs officer

Edited by author 09-28-2005 09:40 PM
I saw that Memorandum Circular of the NTC made last 09-09-2003... the problem with these people we have in the government, especially the regulating offices, is they think they're GODS!!! they put so much regulations that they couldn't even handle the monitoring aspect... take this wifi thingy, your memo circular is 3 years obsolete.. there are new developments in technology that your memo has been outdated... it even says that only telecommunication entities are allowed to put up "outdoor" wifi set-up... and to become a telecommunication company you'd need congressional franchise... and to get congressional franchise... usually the congressmen asks "what's in it for me?" Jesus Christ!!! no wonder the philippines is no backward and outdated!!! look at our neighbors... were left far behind lagging... another point... i discovered something new in technology which would allow me to be just like one of those big time telecomm companies but with a very small fraction of the investment they put in... (you wouldn't believe it!!!) but this law is the problem... i don't have the money to spend for the congressional franchise which i know runs in the millions, considering the number of tongressmen in the tech and telecomm committee.... God!!! what happened to free enterprise? what happened to SME protection? what happened to freedom of trade practices? This country will definitely go down the drain if it doesn't change it's ways soon... thanx for the space and let's lobby for a FREE ENTERPRISE on wireless technology!!!

The trouble with obsolete laws like that is that it creates corruption. Nobody cares if the law is broken because it hurts nobody; but the police can still prosecute - if they choose to.

So the temptation on the police is to say "I won't report this, if you pay my fee."

If they take the money, nobody is harmed by the breaking of the law, so they don't feel guilty the way they would if they took money to allow a thief to operate in a restaurant.

Edited by author 02-15-2005 01:49 AM
its with the law, that has the problem. old law states that you have to get a license first before you can operate a transmitter. too bad thats an old law and need to revise, especially laws on wifi and other wireless networks.
as what rollie is saying, yu can read the wifi memo at Philippines wifi community forum

heres the specific url:
Philippines NTC wifi memo 9-09-03

NTC requirements to operate a radio station

i hope wifi laws will be revised soon

here is the link Memorandum Circular 09-09-2003 for wireless data nework from NTC http://www.ntc.gov.ph/archivesframe.html

The Philippine government is the most corrupt government in southeast asia. The regulatory government agency (NTC) selectively decides as to "who" can and has the money. The country has a 40% below poverty level out of 86 million population. By definition of "below poverty"..families earning less $2/day. We have a WiFi Community Base network there now located in a very under serve or deprived community. We are "illegally" operating because of 2.4 spectrum ban. It might be "illegal" in their eyes..but not in my books. WIFI IF FREE!!! WIFI IS A POWERFUL TOOL TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT!! and...WIFI IS UNIVERSALLY UNLICENSED!! ( air is universally free! what the Philippine government wants is to "charge" you when you breath "their" air.) What a foolish and idiotic system and governance!!

It's been said that the obsolete law banning WiFi in Manila, in the Philippines, has been revoked.

It turns out that this isn't the whole truth; it still requires a licence, and that licence costs money.