JOINT CIRCULAR No. 145/2014/TTLT-BTC-BTTTT ON THE MANAGEMENT AND USE OF FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECT ON INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY ON DIGITALIZATION OF TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTING

JOINT CIRCULAR

Regulations on the management and use of funds to implement the Information and Propaganda Program on Digital Terrestrial Television Transmission and Broadcasting,

 information and propaganda on digital terrestrial television transmission and broadcasting,

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Pursuant to Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the State Budget Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 215/2013/NĐ-CP dated December 23, 2013, promulgated by the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

Based on Decree No. 132/2013/ND-CP dated October 16, 2013 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications;

Implementing Decision No. 2451/QD-TTg dated December 27, 2011 of the Prime Minister approving the "Digital Terrestrial Television Transmission and Broadcasting Program until 2020" and Decision No. 1671/QD-TTg dated November 8, 2012 of the Prime Minister amending and supplementing Decision No. 2451/QD-TTg;

The Minister of Finance and the Minister of Information and Communications shall issue a joint Circular regulating the management and use of funds to implement the Information and Propaganda Program on Digital Terrestrial Television Transmission and Broadcasting.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. Scope of Regulation: This Circular regulates the management and use of funds to implement the Information and Propaganda Program on Digital Terrestrial Television Transmission and Broadcasting approved by the Minister of Information and Communications through Decision No. 891/QĐ-BTTTT dated July 22, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as the Program).

2. Applicability: This Circular applies to agencies, units, organizations, and individuals related to the implementation of the Program.

Article 2. Sources of Funds

1. State budget (including central and local budgets) for implementing tasks under Clause 1, Article 3 (excluding Point d) and Clause 2, Article 3 (excluding Point d) of this Circular.

2. Vietnam Universal Service Fund and other legitimate sources of capital (if any) for implementing tasks under Point d, Clause 1, Article 3, Point d, Clause 2, Article 3, and Clause 3, Article 3 of this Circular.

Article 3. Activities to Implement the Program

1. Production and editing of information and propaganda content, including:

a) Editing and compiling materials for conferences, seminars, and training sessions.

b) Editing and compiling pamphlets, brochures, and advertising flyers for public dissemination.

c) Producing, editing, and building content for advertisements, programs, films, reports, and news broadcasts for propaganda through mass media.

d) Producing, editing, and building content for radio programs and reports for propaganda through grassroots communication systems (county radio and television stations, village radio stations, mobile communication teams, or other grassroots information organizations).

đ) Designing, building, and editing content for propaganda through telecommunications networks and the Internet (text messages, voice messages, emails, or other forms of communication).

e) Designing and building content for outdoor advertising (billboards, posters, electronic billboards on streets, public transportation vehicles, and other carriers of information).

2. Organizing the delivery of information and propaganda content to target audiences through various communication methods, including:

a) Propaganda through conferences, seminars, and training sessions:

- Organizing conferences and seminars to disseminate the "Digital Terrestrial Television Transmission and Broadcasting Program"; standards and technical regulations for digital terrestrial television quality management; timelines for integrating digital terrestrial television reception capabilities into television receivers provided by service providers, manufacturers, importers, and distributors of television equipment.

- Organizing training sessions on basic knowledge about digital television conversion from analog terrestrial television to digital terrestrial television.

- Organizing meetings to report on the progress and effectiveness of information and propaganda activities.

b) Propaganda through press, radio, and television:

- Broadcasting special topics, advertisements, and entertainment programs about digital television within the broadcast schedule at central and local radio and television stations.

- Opening special sections and advertisements about digital television on online newspapers.

- Adding special sections and publishing advertisements about digital television in print newspapers and magazines with appropriate issues.

c) Propaganda through grassroots communication systems:

- Allocating appropriate airtime for broadcasting digital television content on county radio and television stations and village radio stations.

- Organizing mobile propaganda teams for digital television in the area.

- Implementing oral propaganda methods, distributing pamphlets, and flyers.

d) Propaganda through telecommunications networks: Delivering digital terrestrial television propaganda content in suitable formats to mobile telecommunications subscribers.

đ) Propaganda through other methods: Placing advertisements about digital television in central city, town, and township centers, train stations, airports, bus terminals, shopping malls, along national highways, provincial roads, and on public transportation such as buses and taxis.

3. Establishing support information systems for digital television, including:

a) Establishing an online portal providing information on digital television.

b) Establishing a hotline for supporting and answering questions about digital television.

Article 4. Content and Levels of Expenditure

Financial expenditure regulations ensure the implementation of information and propaganda activities on digital terrestrial television transmission and broadcasting according to current financial expenditure regulations. For procurement of goods and services that require bidding, in addition to adhering to invoice and receipt regulations, they must also comply with the provisions of the Law on Bidding and guiding documents.

This Circular guides certain specific expenditure contents and levels in implementing the Information and Propaganda Program on Digital Terrestrial Television Transmission and Broadcasting as follows:

1. Expenditure on writing and compiling materials:

a) Expenditure on writing and compiling ordinary materials: 75,000 VND per standard page of 350 words; maximum level of expenditure for editing materials not exceeding 30% of the new construction cost.

b) Building materials, programs, and textbooks for training and knowledge enhancement classes: The content and level of expenditure apply to the case of building programs, subjects, and textbooks for vocational secondary education as stipulated in Circular No. 123/2009/TT-BTC dated June 17, 2009 of the Ministry of Finance regarding the content and level of expenditure for building program frameworks and compiling programs and textbooks for subjects in higher education, college, and vocational secondary education.

c) Translation of foreign documents, translation from Vietnamese to ethnic minority languages in Vietnam and vice versa: The content and level of expenditure shall be applied according to the provisions of Circular No. 01/2010/TT-BTC dated January 6, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance, regarding the regulations on expenditures for hosting foreign guests working in Vietnam, organizing international conferences and seminars in Vietnam, and entertaining domestic guests.

2. Expenditure for producing programs, roundtable discussions, radio and television news reports

a) Expenditure for producing radio and television programs on mass media: Implementation shall be carried out through ordering and planning according to the provisions of Decree No. 130/2013/NĐ-CP dated October 16, 2013, issued by the Government, concerning the production and supply of public goods and services; unit prices and support quotas shall be determined according to the regulations of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

b) Expenditure for purchasing, reproducing, and distributing communication products such as audiovisual tapes, printed materials, and other communication products: The content and level of expenditure shall be based on current regulations corresponding to each type of product, in accordance with the legal provisions on invoice and receipt systems.

c) Expenditure for renting, repairing, and replacing billboards, posters, slogans, and signboards: The level of expenditure shall be based on market prices in the locality and valid expense receipts.

3. Expenditure for creating text messages, journalistic works, and publishing them in print newspapers and online: The level of expenditure shall be equivalent to remuneration for articles published in online newspapers, as stipulated in Decree No. 18/2014/NĐ-CP dated March 14, 2014, issued by the Government, regarding remuneration systems in the field of journalism and publishing.

4. Expenditure for inspecting information products and propaganda:

Expenditure for convening inspection boards shall be implemented according to the provisions of Joint Circular No. 44/2007/TTLT-BTC-BKHCN dated May 7, 2007, issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology, guiding the establishment and allocation of budgetary funds for scientific and technological projects funded by the state budget. For civil servants who are members of the inspection board and work overtime, their overtime pay shall be calculated according to the provisions of Joint Circular No. 08/2005/TTLT-BNV-BTC dated January 5, 2005, issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs, regarding the payment system for night and overtime work for civil servants.

5. Expenditure for operating, maintaining, and establishing databases for digital terrestrial television broadcasting for websites and call centers: Implementation shall be carried out according to the provisions of Joint Circular No. 19/2012/TTLT-BTC-BKH&ĐT-BTTTT dated February 15, 2012, issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Information and Communications, guiding the management and use of funds for the National Program on the Application of Information Technology in State Administrative Activities, and Circular No. 194/2012/TT-BTC dated November 15, 2012, issued by the Ministry of Finance, regarding the guidelines for expenditure on electronic information creation to maintain the regular operation of agencies and units using state budget funds.

6. Expenditure for organizing specialized meetings, summary meetings, and implementation meetings for information and propaganda activities: Implementation shall be carried out according to the provisions of Circular No. 97/2010/TT-BTC dated July 6, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance, regarding the regulations on travel expenses and meeting organization costs for state agencies and public service organizations.

7. Expenditure for supporting rebroadcasting of radio and television programs at various levels of radio and television stations:

a) Support for rebroadcasting radio and television programs shall be implemented according to the provisions of Joint Circular No. 225/TTLT/BTC-BKHĐT-BTTTT dated December 26, 2012, issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Information and Communications, guiding the management and use of state budget funds for the National Target Program on Bringing Information to Mountainous Areas, Remote Areas, Border Areas, and Islands during the period 2012-2015.

b) Support for community radio broadcasting activities:

- Editing radio broadcasting materials: VND 75,000 per standard page of 350 words;

- Training allowance for radio broadcasters: VND 15,000 per session for broadcasting in ethnic languages: VND 20,000 per session. The maximum total training allowance per day per person shall not exceed VND 100,000.

8. Expenditure for mobile propaganda:

a) Allowance for individuals directly participating in propaganda campaigns: VND 50,000 per person per day.

The head of the unit assigned the task of communication shall decide the number of participants in mobile propaganda within the allocated budget.

b) Allowance for mobile propaganda teams shall be applied according to the provisions of Joint Circular No. 191/2011/TTLT-BTC-BVHTTDL dated December 21, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, guiding special management regulations for provincial, city, district, county, and town mobile propaganda teams.

9. When new regulations amend, supplement, or replace the regulations on expenditure standards and rates referred to in Clauses 1 to 8 of this Article, the new regulations shall apply.

10. Expenditure for establishing information systems to support digital television: Implementation shall be carried out according to the provisions of the Public Procurement Law and related implementing regulations.

11. For expenditure items that have not been regulated by competent state authorities with regard to standards and unit prices, the units directly responsible for implementing information and propaganda tasks shall base their detailed budget estimates on approved objectives and plans by the competent state management agency for Information and Communication (at the central level, the Ministry of Information and Communication, and at the local level, the Department of Information and Communication), the volume of work, and market prices, submit them for approval by the competent authority, and implement them according to the current regulations of the State Budget Law and related laws.

Article 5. Budget preparation, allocation, management, and settlement

1. For tasks funded from the State Budget:

Each year, based on their functions and responsibilities, agencies and units shall prepare detailed budgets for funds to ensure the implementation of tasks related to digital terrestrial television information and propaganda as specified in Article 3 and expenditure levels specified in Article 4 of this Circular, and incorporate these into the annual regular budget estimate for submission to the competent authority for decision-making in accordance with the State Budget Law.

The allocation, implementation of the budget, and settlement of funds for tasks related to information dissemination and promotion of digital terrestrial television shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the State Budget Law and relevant guiding documents.

2. For tasks funded from the Vietnam Universal Service Fund as stipulated in Point d Clause 1 Article 3, Point d Clause 2 Article 3, and Clause 3 Article 3 of this Circular: Annually, based on activities assigned by competent authorities, agencies and units shall prepare detailed budgets to ensure the execution of tasks, submit them to the Ministry of Information and Communications for consideration and disbursement of funds from the Vietnam Universal Service Fund in accordance with current regulations.

Article 6. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from November 20, 2014.

2. For workloads that ministries, sectors, and localities have already implemented before this Circular takes effect, ministries, sectors, and localities shall base their final accounts on the provisions of this Circular and valid expenditure vouchers in accordance with the State Budget Law.

3. Any difficulties encountered during implementation should be promptly reported to the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Finance for study and resolution./.