Joint Circular No. 06/2016/TTLT-BTTTT-BNV guiding the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Information and Communications under the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities; the Cultural and Information Office under the People's Committee of districts, towns, urban districts, and provincial-level cities.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Pursuant to Decree No. 44/2014/ND-CP dated May 4, 2014 of the Government on organizing specialized agencies under the People's Committee of provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government;

Decree No. 107/2020/ND-CP dated September 14, 2020 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 24/2014/ND-CP dated April 4, 2014 of the Government;Pursuant to Decree No. 37/2014/ND-CP dated May 5, 2014 of the Government on organizing specialized agencies under the People's Committee of districts, counties, towns, and municipalities directly under provinces; Pursuant to Decree No. 36/2012/ND-CP dated April 18, 2012 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 132/2013/ND-CP dated October 16, 2013 of the Government on the functions, tasks, and powers of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 58/2014/ND-CP dated June 16, 2014 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Decree No. The Ministers of the Ministry of Information and Communication and the Ministry of Home Affairs hereby issue guidelines on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Information and Communication under the People's Committee of provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government (hereinafter referred to collectively as the provincial People's Committee), and the Department of Culture and Information under the People's Committee of districts, counties, towns, and municipalities directly under provinces (hereinafter referred to collectively as the district People's Committee).d) Administrative and management task group: carry out tasks related to statistics, compilation, issuance of library user cards, evaluation of library activities, international cooperation in libraries; administrative, archival, personnel organization, accounting, and other internal management activities.defined on land.

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONd) Agencies, organizations, units, and individuals related to the establishment and operation of Management Boards in public service units;

Article 1. The Department of Information and Communication is a specialized agency under the People's Committee of provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government with the function of advising and assisting the provincial People's Committee in managing state affairs regarding: press; publishing; postal services; telecommunications; radio frequency spectrum; information technology; electronics; broadcasting and television; foreign information; news agency bulletins; grassroots information; information and communication infrastructure; advertising in newspapers, online media, publications, and integrated advertising on postal, telecommunication, and information technology products and services (hereinafter referred to collectively as information and communication). 2. The Department of Information and Communication has legal personality, its own seal and separate account; it is subject to the direction and management of organization, staffing, and personnel work by the provincial People's Committee, while also being subject to professional and operational guidance from the Ministry of Information and Communication.d) Administrative and management task group: carry out tasks related to statistics, compilation, issuance of library user cards, evaluation of library activities, international cooperation in libraries; administrative, archival, personnel organization, accounting, and other internal management activities.Clause 1. Draft decisions, directives; long-term, five-year, and annual development plans, programs, projects, and initiatives concerning information and communication; programs and measures for implementing state administrative reform tasks, decentralization management, and socialization in areas within its assigned scope of state management. Clause 2. Draft decision defining the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Information and Communication.

PART I

Clause 3. Draft regulations on qualification standards for heads and deputy heads of organizations under the Department; heads and deputy heads of the Department of Culture and Information under the district People's Committee after coordinating and reaching consensus with the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Article 1. Position and Functions

Clause 1. Draft decisions on establishing, merging, or dissolving units under the Department in accordance with the law.

Clause 2. Draft decisions and directives within the authority of the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee on matters related to information and communication.

b) Draft five-year and annual socio-economic development plans for the province; major economic and social balances for the province; draft five-year and annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize and implement tasks related to socio-economic development, finance-budget, planning-investment, and other tasks within the scope of state management of the Department of Finance as prescribed by law;

1. Submit to the provincial People's Committee:

3. Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of regulatory legal documents, planning, development programs, projects, technical standards, national standards, economic and technical norms concerning information and communication that have been approved; organize the implementation of information dissemination, popularization, and legal education activities on areas within the Department’s scope of management.

4. On press (including print press, electronic press, radio, television, news agency bulletins):

Clause 1. Guide and implement legal provisions on press activities in the locality.

2. Submitting to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee:

Clause 2. Organize inspections of local press archives and manage local press archives.

Clause 3. Issue and revoke permits for operating news agencies to entities and organizations in the locality.

Clause 4. Assist the provincial People's Committee (except for Hanoi City) in responding to requests for organizing press conferences by foreign agencies and organizations in Vietnam; respond to requests for organizing press conferences by local agencies and organizations.

Clause 5. Receive, review applications, and propose competent authorities to issue press cards, press operation permits, publication permits for press materials and other informational publications according to the law for local press agencies and other local agencies and organizations.

Clause 6. Assist the provincial People's Committee in considering and approving the establishment of representative offices, liaison offices, and permanent agencies of central press agencies and other local press agencies in the locality.

Clause 7. Implement approved plans for developing local radio and television broadcasting services.

Clause 8. Manage radio and television services; the use of equipment to receive direct satellite broadcast signals for units, organizations, and individuals in the locality according to the law.

5. On publishing, printing, and distribution:

Clause 1. Issue and revoke permits for non-commercial publication materials for local agencies and organizations, branches, representative offices, and subordinate units of central agencies in the locality; issue and revoke permits for importing non-commercial publication materials for local agencies and individuals; issue and revoke permits for printing publication materials and printing processing for foreign entities for local printing establishments according to the law.

Clause 2. Issue and revoke permits for printing non-publication products; confirm registration for printing establishments in the locality; issue permits for foreign prepress and postpress processing of non-publication products; issue certificates for registering the use of color photocopiers; confirm the transfer of color photocopiers and printers with photocopier functions in the locality.

g) Organize the implementation of the plan for the development of radio and television affairs in the locality after approval;

h) Manage radio and television services; the use of equipment to receive direct satellite broadcast signals for units, organizations, and individuals within the locality in accordance with the provisions of the law;

5. On publishing, printing, and distribution:

a) Issue and revoke permits for non-commercial publication of materials for local agencies and organizations, central agencies' branches, representative offices, and subordinate units located in the locality; issue and revoke import permits for publications not intended for commercial purposes for local agencies, organizations, and individuals; issue and revoke permits for printing publications and permits for printing foreign publications on behalf of local printing establishments in accordance with the provisions of the law;

b) Issue and revoke permits for printing non-publication products; confirm registration of printing establishments' activities in the locality; issue permits for foreign prepress work and post-printing processing of non-publication products; issue certificates of registration for the use of color photocopiers; confirm the transfer of color photocopiers and printers with color photocopy functions in the locality;

c) Issuing, revoking exhibition and trade fair permits for publication products; temporarily suspending the organization of exhibitions and trade fairs of publication products licensed by local authorities; confirming registration for publication product distribution activities at the local level;

d) Managing the screening of publication products and organizing reading sessions of screened publication products licensed by local authorities; inspecting and handling according to authority when signs of violation of laws are found in printed products;

d) Inspecting and supervising compliance with laws on publishing, printing, and distribution; handling complaints and reports, and dealing with violations in publishing, printing, and distribution activities at the local level within their authority;

e) Temporarily suspending printing activities of printed products or halting the printing of printed products currently being printed at the local level if illegal content is discovered in the printed products, and reporting to the Minister of Information and Communications and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; temporarily suspending the distribution of publication products with illegal content from distribution outlets at the local level;

g) Implementing the destruction of printed products violating the law according to the decision of the competent authority.

6. Regarding foreign information:

a) Build regulations and rules on external information activities in the locality;

b) Reviewing the content of foreign information programs and projects as assigned by the Provincial People's Committee; guiding the content of foreign information for organizations within the locality;

c) Considering and approving the display of paintings, photographs, and other forms of information outside the premises of foreign diplomatic agencies and organizations located in the locality in accordance with the law;

7. Regarding basic information:

a) Developing strategies and plans for the development of basic information activities; regulations on information dissemination, propaganda, and promotion serving political, economic, cultural, and social tasks of the Party and State;

b) Establishing and organizing visual propaganda information systems within the locality;

c) Organizing research and proposing the construction or review of propaganda and basic information content according to the Party's guidelines and State policies within the locality;

d) Guiding and implementing basic information activities; taking the lead and coordinating with relevant agencies to train and enhance professional skills for civil servants in the Culture and Information Department;

8. Regarding electronic information:

a) Receiving, reviewing, issuing, revoking, amending, supplementing, and extending licenses for establishing comprehensive electronic information websites for organizations and businesses within the locality;

b) Taking the lead and coordinating with relevant agencies to organize inspections of technical conditions of businesses providing online game services that have officially started operations within the locality;

c) Publicizing lists of public online game service points that have been granted and revoked certificates meeting the requirements for public online game service points; updating lists of G1 games that have been approved and revoked decisions on content and scripts;

d) Taking the lead and coordinating with the County People's Committees to manage, statistics, and report on the operation of public Internet access points and public online game service points within the locality according to the law;

9. Regarding advertising:

a) Guiding the implementation of advertising in the press, on the internet, in publications, and integrated advertising on postal, telecommunications, and information technology products and services within the locality according to their authority;

b) Supervising, inspecting, and handling violations by organizations and individuals engaged in advertising in the press, on the internet, in publications, and integrated advertising on postal, telecommunications, and information technology products and services within the locality according to their authority;

10. Regarding postal services:

a) Guiding, inspecting, and organizing the implementation of work to ensure safety and security in postal activities within the province according to the law;

b) Coordinating with relevant agencies to inspect the implementation of standards, service quality, and information security regulations in postal services within the province;

c) Issuing confirmation documents for postal service activities for enterprises providing postal services according to the law;

d) Issuing, amending, supplementing, and revoking postal service licenses for enterprises providing intra-provincial letter services according to their authority;

đ) Coordinating in implementing state management work related to postal stamps within the locality;

11. Regarding telecommunications:

a) Guiding, inspecting, and directing telecommunications enterprises to implement work to ensure information security and safety within the locality according to the law;

b) Coordinating with relevant agencies to inspect the implementation of regulations on tariffs, standards, specifications, and quality in the telecommunications and Internet sectors within the province according to the law;

c) Leading inspections, supervision, and handling of violations by telecommunications enterprises, agents, and users providing telecommunications and Internet services within the province according to the law and under the delegation of the Ministry of Information and Communications;

d) Supporting telecommunications enterprises within the locality to complete necessary procedures for constructing telecommunications infrastructure according to issued permits, in line with local development planning, and according to the law;

đ) Coordinating with functional units of the Ministry of Information and Communications to participate in certain stages of licensing, resolving disputes regarding interconnection and shared infrastructure usage;

e) Directing the Culture and Information Departments to inspect, supervise, and handle violations by agents and users of telecommunications and Internet services within the locality according to the law;

12. Regarding information technology and electronics:

a) Implementing planning, programs, projects, mechanisms, policies, management regulations, and support for the development of hardware, software, electronics, digital content industries, and information technology services; national database catalogues and management regulations for investment application and development of information technology using state funds within the province after approval.

b) Implement, report periodically, and evaluate the implementation of plans on the application of information technology in the operations of state agencies at the provincial level;

c) Develop regulations and provisions on the activities of applying information technology in the locality;

d) Develop training, capacity building, and human resource development plans for information technology within the province, and organize their implementation after approval;

đ) Organize and guide the implementation of regulations on information technology security within the scope of authority;

e) Organize and guide the implementation of information technology application projects serving the collection, storage, and processing of digital information to support guidance and management by the provincial People's Committee;

g) Develop management, operation, technical assurance, and information security regulations; guide the use of information infrastructure to serve guidance, management, and operational activities of the provincial People's Committee;

h) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to manage, maintain, upgrade, and ensure technical and information security for the operation of the provincial People's Committee's electronic portal/information website; guide units in the province to connect uniformly according to the division of the provincial People's Committee;

i) Survey, investigate, and statistically analyze the situation of information technology application and industrial development in the locality; build databases on products and enterprises in the locality to serve regular reporting work as prescribed;

k) Perform tasks of specialized units on information technology and the permanent office of the provincial electronic portal Editorial Board;

13. Regarding radio frequency spectrum:

a) Guide and inspect the implementation of frequency allocation planning for broadcasting and television on the provincial territory; regulations on conditions, technical requirements, and operating conditions for radio equipment that require conditions;

b) Conduct annual inspections and investigations of organizations and individuals using frequencies and radio wave transmitting devices belonging to private radio networks, broadcasting stations, and limited-range television stations within the provincial territory; coordinate with regional frequency management organizations to inspect and investigate other networks and stations according to plans and emergencies;

c) Impose penalties within the scope of authority for administrative violations by organizations and individuals who violate regulations on the use of radio wave transmitting devices and frequencies within the provincial territory;

14. On intellectual property rights:

a) Coordinate and implement legal provisions on copyright for journalistic products, encoded broadcasting and television programs, publications, postal stamps, information and communication technology products and services; intellectual property rights for inventions and patents in the fields of information and communication within the provincial territory;

b) Implement legal measures to protect intellectual property rights in the field of information and communication within the provincial territory as prescribed by law;

c) Guide professional protection of legitimate intellectual property rights for organizations and individuals regarding information and communication products and services according to legal provisions;

15. Advise the provincial People's Committee on state management over businesses, collective economic organizations, private economic organizations, associations, and non-governmental organizations operating in the field of information and communication within the provincial territory as prescribed by law;

16. Guide and inspect the implementation of self-management and self-responsibility mechanisms for public service units under the management of the Department of Information and Communications as prescribed by law;

17. Guide and provide professional training in the fields of information and communication for the Cultural and Information Office under the district People's Committee;

18. Carry out state management tasks for public services in the fields of information and communication:

a) Manage public services:

For public services within the central government's decision-making authority: The Department coordinates to guide related enterprises and units in developing service supply plans and projects, supervising and inspecting their implementation, and reporting results at the local level according to the Ministry of Information and Communications' guidelines;

For public services within the local government's decision-making authority: The Department takes the lead and coordinates with relevant sectors in developing and submitting service supply plans and projects to the provincial People's Committee for approval, and organizing their implementation according to legal provisions;

b) Carry out state management over other public services as prescribed by law;

19. Assist the provincial People's Committee in organizing communication work to serve Party and State agencies, national defense, security, diplomacy; disaster prevention and mitigation information; rescue and emergency information on the provincial territory as prescribed by law;

20. Carry out state management tasks for specialized investment projects in the field of information and communication in the locality according to laws on investment and construction and the division of responsibilities assigned by the provincial People's Committee;

21. Carry out tasks of building and coordinating in building economic and technical standards in the field of information and communication according to the Ministry of Information and Communications' guidelines;

22. Organize research, application of scientific and technological advancements, conduct surveys, statistics, data collection to build information systems serving state management and professional work in the fields of information and communication and supporting guidance and management by the provincial People's Committee;

23. Implement the department's administrative reform program according to the provincial People's Committee's administrative reform objectives and program;

24. Implement periodic and ad hoc reporting on the implementation of assigned tasks according to the provincial People's Committee's and the Ministry of Information and Communications' regulations; participate in conducting surveys, statistics, and providing information on events and activities in the field of information and communication as guided by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

25. Manage and organize the implementation of international cooperation work in the fields of information and communication as assigned by the provincial People's Committee, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Information and Communications and the provisions of the law.

26. Inspect, supervise, handle and resolve complaints, denunciations, prevent and combat corruption and negative practices; practice thrift and combat waste in the field of information and communication in accordance with the law and the division of responsibilities assigned by the provincial People's Committee.

27. Define the functions, tasks, and authorities of the office, inspection body, and other organizations and units under the structure of the Department; manage organizational structures, civil servant quotas, job classification structures, positions, and the number of staff in public service units according to occupational titles; implement salary systems and incentive policies, rewards, and disciplinary measures for civil servants and public officials within the scope of management; organize training and professional development for civil servants and public officials within the scope of the Department's management in accordance with the law.

28. Manage and be responsible for financial resources and assets assigned, and organize the implementation of the budget allocated in accordance with the law and the division of responsibilities assigned by the provincial People's Committee.

29. Perform other tasks assigned by the provincial People's Committee and in accordance with the law.

Article 3. Organizational Structure

1. Leadership of the Department:

a) The Department of Information and Communications has a Director and not more than three Deputy Directors;

b) The Director is the head of the Department, accountable to the provincial People's Committee, the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, and the law for all activities of the Department; responsible for reporting work to the provincial People's Committee, the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, and the Minister of Information and Communications; report to the People's Council, respond to the petitions of voters, and answer questions from representatives of the provincial People's Council as required;

c) The Deputy Director assists the Director, accountable to the Director and the law for the tasks assigned; when the Director is absent, a Deputy Director may be delegated to oversee the operations of the Department;

d) The appointment of the Director and Deputy Directors of the Department is decided by the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee based on professional standards issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications and in accordance with the law. The removal, commendation, and disciplinary actions against the Director and Deputy Directors of the Department are carried out in accordance with the law.

2. Advisory and specialized organizations:

a) Office;

b) The Department Inspectorate;

c) The Planning and Finance Division;

d) The Information Technology Division;

đ) The Information, Press, and Publishing Division;

e) The Postal and Telecommunications Division.

Based on specific conditions and the framework stipulated in this Circular, the provincial People's Committee may establish or not establish the full number of organizations mentioned above to cover all areas under its jurisdiction. For Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City, if the number of specialized divisions of the Department of Information and Communications exceeds the prescribed number, the municipal People's Committee Chairman shall direct the establishment of a proposal to set up organizations to be submitted to the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Home Affairs for consensus before making a decision.

In cases where fewer than six named units are established (less than six units), the provincial People's Committee decides to adjust the names and functions of each unit to ensure compliance with the law.

3. Public Service Units under the Department of Information and Communications:

- Information and Communication Technology Center;

- Other organizations (if any).

The establishment, restructuring, and dissolution of public service units directly under the Department of Information and Communications are carried out in accordance with the law.

Article 4. Establishment

1. The establishment of civil servants and the number of staff working in public service units under the Department of Information and Communications shall be assigned based on job positions tied to functions, tasks, scope of activities, and within the total establishment of civil servants and the total number of staff working in administrative agencies and public service units at the provincial level directly under the central government, as approved by the competent authority.

2. Based on functions, tasks, organizational structure, job position list, civil servant grade structure, and professional title structure for officials approved by the competent authority, the Department of Information and Communications shall annually take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Home Affairs to develop plans for the establishment of civil servants and the number of staff working in public service units to submit to the Provincial People's Committee for submission to the competent authority for consideration and decision in accordance with the law.

Chapter II

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION

Article 5. Position and Functions

1. The Department of Culture and Information is a specialized agency under the People's Committee of districts, towns, cities directly under provinces, having the function of advising and assisting the district-level People's Committee in managing state administration in the fields of: press; publishing; postal services; telecommunications; information technology; radio and television; grassroots information; external information, and information infrastructure within its jurisdiction (the implementation of state management functions in culture, sports, and tourism by the Department of Culture and Information is guided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Home Affairs).

2. The Department of Culture and Information has its own seal and account; it is subject to the direction and management of organization, establishment, and operation by the district-level People's Committee, while also being subject to professional guidance and supervision in the fields of information and communication by the Department of Information and Communications.

Article 6. Tasks and Powers

1. Propose the People's Committee of the district to issue decisions, directives; long-term planning, five-year plans, and annual plans for the development of information and communication within its jurisdiction; programs and measures to organize the implementation of administrative reform tasks in the fields of information and communication.

2. Propose the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district draft documents on information and communication within the Chairman's authority to issue.

3. Implement laws, plans, and programs after approval; disseminate, popularize, educate about laws, monitor law enforcement in the field of information and communication.

4. Assist the district-level People's Committee in examining, registering, and issuing various types of licenses in the fields of information and communication according to the law and the division of work and delegation by the district-level People's Committee.

5. Assist the district-level People's Committee in state management over collective economic organizations, private economic organizations; guide and implement activities of associations and non-governmental organizations operating within its jurisdiction in the field of information and communication according to the law.

6. Assist the district-level People's Committee in organizing security and safety measures for information in postal, courier, telecommunication, information technology, Internet, broadcasting, and television activities.

7. Assist the district-level People's Committee in state management over the network of grassroots radio and television stations.

8. Be responsible for monitoring and implementing programs and projects on the application of information technology in the district according to the division of work by the district-level People's Committee.

9. Organize grassroots information and external information activities in the district according to the guidance of the Department of Information and Communications.

10. Implement management, inspection, and guidance for communes, wards, and towns to manage postal, telecommunication, and Internet agencies within their jurisdiction according to the law.

11. Promote, disseminate, and guide organizations, units, and individuals in the district to comply with laws in the fields of postal services, telecommunications, and Internet; information technology, information infrastructure; broadcasting; advertising; press; publishing.

12. Organize the application of scientific and technological progress; build information systems and archives to serve administrative management and professional tasks in the field of information and communication.

13. Carry out information and periodic and ad hoc reporting on the implementation of assigned tasks according to the regulations of the district-level People's Committee and the sectoral management department.

14. Manage organizational structure, job positions, civil servant establishment, civil servant grade structure, implement salary systems, policies, incentives, rewards, disciplinary actions, training, and professional development for civil servants under its jurisdiction according to the law and the division of work and delegation by the district-level People's Committee.

15. Manage and be responsible for the financial affairs and assets of the Department according to the law and the division of work and delegation by the district-level People's Committee.

16. Perform other tasks assigned by the district-level People's Committee or as stipulated by the law.

Article 7. Organization and Staffing

1. The Department of Culture and Information shall have a Head, not more than three Deputy Heads, and other civil servants, including one leader responsible for the information and communication sector.

The Head shall be accountable to the People's Committee, the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level, and to the law for all activities of the Department.

The Deputy Heads shall assist the Head and be accountable to the Head and to the law for the tasks assigned to them.

The appointment of the Head and Deputy Heads shall be decided by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level based on the professional standards issued by the People's Committee at the provincial level and in accordance with the provisions of the law. The removal, dismissal, commendation, disciplinary action, and other benefits and policies for the Head and Deputy Heads shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. The staffing of civil servants of the Department of Culture and Information shall be determined by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level within the total staffing quota of civil servants allocated by the People's Committee at the provincial level.

Based on functions, tasks, the list of job positions, and the approved structure of civil service grades, the Department of Culture and Information shall annually take the lead and coordinate with the Civil Service Affairs Department to develop a staffing plan in accordance with the law to ensure the fulfillment of assigned tasks, and submit it for approval by the competent authority.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 8. Effectiveness 1. This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2026; Circular No. 24/2013/TT-BKHCN dated September 30, 2013 of the Minister of Science and Technology on activities related to calibration, verification, testing of measuring instruments, and measurement standards shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

1. This Circular shall take effect from April 24, 2016.

2. This Circular replaces Circular Jointly Issued No. 03/2008/TTLT-BTTTT-BNV dated June 30, 2008, jointly issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Home Affairs guiding the functions, tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of the Department of Information and Communications under the People's Committee at the provincial level and the Department of Culture and Information under the People's Committee at the district level.

Article 9. Responsibility for implementation

1. The People's Committee at the provincial level shall specify the tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of the Department of Information and Communications in accordance with the guidance provided in this Circular and guide the People's Committee at the district level to specify the tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of the Department of Culture and Information.

2. During implementation, if any issues arise or difficulties occur, the People's Committee at the provincial level shall promptly report to the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration and resolution within their jurisdiction.