According to the Ministry of Communication, audiovisual service distributors in Togo must guarantee their subscribers free access to public broadcasting channels, including TVT, Radio Lomé, and Radio Kara. The directive, issued via a circular, addresses ongoing non-compliance across various commercial networks.
Togolese Ministry Sets 30-Day Compliance Deadline for Audiovisual Distributors
According to MatinLibre, the directive stems from Article 36 of Law n° 2019-016 of October 30, 2019, which mandates that every service provider must make public media services available to subscribers at no extra cost. Despite this legal requirement, Ministry officials observed that public stations are missing from certain commercial bouquets.
Did you know? Under Togolese media law, public service broadcasting obligations apply universally across all commercial distribution platforms operating within national jurisdiction.
Reporting Requirements and Regulatory Penalties
Once the thirty-day implementation period expires, operators must submit formal documentation detailing their compliance measures to the Ministry of Communication. MatinLibre notes that submissions must be directed to the official electronic address secretariat.ministre@communication.gouv.tg. Failure to meet the statutory deadline triggers immediate administrative escalation. The Ministry confirmed that non-compliant cases will be handed over to the competent regulatory authority for appropriate disciplinary action.
The regulatory body maintains a graduated enforcement framework for digital and cable distributors. Beyond legal compliance, the enforcement push aims to protect citizen access to vital public service information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What channels must be provided for free under the new directive?
Distributors must provide free access to Togolese public media services, specifically mentioning TVT, Radio Lomé, and Radio Kara, according to Ministry statements.
Where should operators submit their compliance reports?
Operators must send reports detailing their corrective measures to secretariat.ministre@communication.gouv.tg following the expiration of the thirty-day timeline, as detailed by MatinLibre.
What happens if a distributor fails to comply?
Unresolved cases will be transmitted to the regulatory authority, which holds the legal mandate to issue warnings, impose fines, or suspend operations.
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