Dili, 22 January 2025 – ANC and the Press Council of Timor-Leste (CI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen press freedom and freedom of expression in Timor-Leste, at the Press Council meeting room, Quintal Boot, Dili.
The aim of the agreement is for the Press Council and ANC to work together and coordinate well when ANC gives frequency licences to radio and television media, and to make sure there is oversight of the media registered with the Press Council.
The President of the Press Council, Otélio Ote, said: "Today we mark an important moment between the Press Council and ANC. This MoU will strengthen our work in social communication so the public can get good, fast information across the whole country, and we hope it brings change and success in the future."
ANC is the regulator of the telecom sector in Timor-Leste. Its mission is to regulate telecommunications, radio-communications, broadcasting and the Internet, with the duties and powers given to it by law.
ANC President Flávio Cardoso Neves said the MoU is a very important step for ANC and the Press Council to work better together. "Our roles are different, but some things need joint work, especially the assignment of frequencies. This agreement will strengthen coordination between the two institutions in overseeing radio and television."
The MoU was needed so the two bodies can act together on some matters, in line with each one's role under Law No. 5/2014 of 19 November (Media Law) and Decree-Law No. 31/2024 of 6 September, the first amendment to Decree-Law No. 15/2012 of 28 March on telecommunications regulation.
This cooperation matters because ANC gives licences to media. Article 26 of the Media Law says: "Radio and television media may only operate with a frequency licence granted by the Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações, which manages the radio spectrum."
Press Council leaders and staff, ANC technical staff and journalists attended the ceremony.
