Circular No. 17/2013/TT-BTTTT stipulates the activities of Village Post and Culture Stations issued by the Minister of Information and Communications.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the operation of postal and cultural community centers

Pursuant to the Law on Postal Services dated June 17, 2010;

Pursuant to the Law on Telecommunications dated November 23, 2009;

Pursuant to Decree No. 187/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications; Decree No. 50/2011/NĐ-CP dated June 24, 2011 of the Government amending Decree No. 187/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications;

Pursuant to Decision No. 119/2011/QĐ-TTg dated January 9, 2011 of the Prime Minister approving the Project on developing information and communications for the period of 2011-2020;

Pursuant to Decision No. 41/2011/QĐ-TTg dated August 8, 2011 of the Prime Minister on designating enterprises to maintain and manage the public postal network, provide public postal services, and international postal services;

At the proposal of the Director of the Post Department,

The Minister of Information and Communications issues this Circular stipulating the operation of postal and cultural community centers.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the operation of postal and cultural community centers including: providing public postal services, other business services, organizing reading activities of books and publications (hereinafter referred to as books and newspapers) at postal and cultural community centers; receiving and implementing programs and projects serving the development of information and communications in rural areas and other state programs and projects related to rural areas.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals involved in activities at postal and cultural community centers.

Article 3. Postal and Cultural Community Centers

1. Postal and Cultural Community Centers are service points belonging to the public postal network assigned by the State to Vietnam Post Corporation to construct, maintain, and manage in order to provide public postal services and other business services according to the development orientation of Vietnam Post Corporation, while also being places to organize reading activities of books and newspapers for the community.

2. Postal and Cultural Community Centers are prioritized for selection to:

a) Provide public telecommunications services under the Public Telecommunications Program;

c) Organize the implementation of programs and projects for developing information and communications in rural areas and other state programs and projects related to rural areas in compliance with regulations on activities at postal and cultural community centers.

Article 4. Staff of Postal and Cultural Community Centers

1. Staff working at postal and cultural community centers must meet the following basic conditions:

a) Having a high school diploma or higher; in mountainous areas, remote areas, border regions, and islands, they must have at least a junior high school diploma;

b) Being trained in basic postal operations and organizing reading activities of books and newspapers;

c) Fulfilling all agreements and commitments with the enterprise assigned to manage the system of postal and cultural community centers.

Chapter II

PROVISION OF SERVICES AND ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVITIES

READING BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS AT POSTAL AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTERS

Article 5. Provision of postal services

a) Basic mail service with a weight up to 02kg and public interest press distribution service according to the Prime Minister's Decision;

b) Other postal services as required by the State.

2. Depending on each development stage and state policy, the Ministry of Information and Communications shall adjust the list of services specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

4. Vietnam Post Corporation shall enjoy state support policies for public interest postal services provided at Postal service points - Cultural Villages.

Article 6. Provision of other services

Vietnam Post Corporation may implement the provision of other services at Postal service points - Cultural Villages and must ensure the following requirements:

1. The implementation of other services shall not affect the quality of public interest postal services and reading activities;

2. Be consistent with the overall development orientation of Vietnam Post Corporation.

Article 7. Organization of book and newspaper reading services

1. Book and newspaper reading activities at Postal service points - Cultural Villages include free reading services of printed books, newspapers, and publications, and organizing online reading of books and newspapers.

2. The organization of book and newspaper reading services at Postal service points - Cultural Villages must meet the following requirements:

a) Ensuring a minimum service time for the reading needs of the people corresponding to the operating hours stipulated by the national technical standards for public interest postal services issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications during different periods;

b) Books and newspapers must be registered, classified, and arranged by topic for easy monitoring, management, and reading.

Article 8. Sources and allocation of books and newspapers at Postal service points - Cultural Villages

1. The sources of books and newspapers at Postal service points - Cultural Villages are provided through inter-sectoral cooperation programs, National Target Programs to bring information to grassroots levels, mountainous areas, remote regions, border areas, islands, and other programs.

2. Books and newspapers supplied to Postal service points - Cultural Villages must meet local needs and characteristics; priority should be given to allocating them to communes in economically and socially disadvantaged and extremely disadvantaged areas.

Article 9. Circulation of books and retention period for various types of press and publications

2. The minimum retention period for various types of press and publications at Postal service points - Cultural Villages is as follows:

- One month: for various types of press.

- Two months: for various types of publications.

Chapter III

ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RURAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS AT POSTAL SERVICE POINTS - CULTURAL VILLAGES

REGARDING RURAL TELEGRAPH AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY STATION

Article 10. General principles for organizing and implementing rural programs and projects at Postal service points - Cultural Villages

1. Rural information and communication programs and projects must be prioritized for consideration and evaluation to be implemented at Postal service points - Cultural Villages.

2. Encouragement is given to the selection of Postal service points - Cultural Villages for organizing and implementing rural programs and projects by various sectors, levels, organizations, and other enterprises.

3. The organization and implementation of programs and projects at Postal service points - Cultural Villages shall not affect the provision of public interest postal services and reading activities at Postal service points - Cultural Villages.

4. Any additional costs incurred to ensure the implementation of programs and projects at Postal service points - Cultural Villages must be calculated and paid to Vietnam Post Corporation based on agreements between the parties.

Article 11. Regarding programs and projects under the main responsibility of the Ministry of Information and Communications

1. Programs and projects on rural information and communication under the main responsibility of the Ministry of Information and Communications must be prioritized for implementation at Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers. In cases where implementation at Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers does not meet the requirements of the programs and projects, other locations within the area may be selected.

2. The investors of rural information and communication programs and projects must consider and assess the feasibility of implementation at Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers from the survey and proposal stage for project establishment.

3. When deciding to use the Postal Service - Cultural Community Center system to implement approved programs and projects by the Ministry of Information and Communications, the implementing unit of the program or project must closely coordinate with Vietnam Post Corporation from the initial implementation phase.

Article 12. Regarding other programs and projects related to rural areas

1. When there are central-level programs and projects planned to be implemented at Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers, the managing agency of the program or project shall send a document to the Ministry of Information and Communications to coordinate and direct Vietnam Post Corporation to participate in implementation.

2. For local programs and projects planned to be implemented at Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers, the managing agency of the program or project shall send a document to the Provincial Department of Information and Communications, Vietnam Post Corporation to coordinate and direct provincial post offices to participate in implementation.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 13. Responsibilities of state management agencies for Information and Communication

1. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Information and Communications

b) Taking the lead and coordinating with relevant agencies to submit to the Prime Minister for issuance of mechanisms and policies supporting the activities of Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers based on proposals from Vietnam Post Corporation.

c) Coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors to establish regulations on book circulation as stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 9 of this Circular.

d) Approving rural information and communication programs and projects to be implemented at Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers.

e) Coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors to propose rural programs and projects to be implemented at Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers and directing Vietnam Post Corporation to implement these programs and projects.

2. Responsibilities of the Provincial Department of Information and Communications

a) Leading and coordinating with local agencies and departments to advise and propose to the People's Committee of the province or city on cooperation mechanisms, support, and investment for Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers in the locality using local budget funds and assisting in completing land use right certificate procedures for Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers for Vietnam Post Corporation.

c) Inspecting and supervising the operations of Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers in the locality.

d) Advising and proposing the implementation of provincial and local programs and projects at Postal Service - Cultural Community Centers.

Article 14. Responsibilities of Vietnam Post Corporation

3. Upgrade infrastructure to ensure the effectiveness of operations at postal and cultural village stations based on combining resources from enterprises, investment capital from organizations and individuals, and support from central and local budgets.

4. Study and propose mechanisms and policies to support the activities of postal and cultural village stations.

5. Implement book circulation as prescribed.

6. Develop training and professional skill enhancement plans to improve the qualifications of staff working at postal and cultural village stations to meet the conditions required for implementing activities at these stations.

7. Coordinate with project sponsors and managing units to implement programs and projects during the survey, proposal, and implementation phases.

8. Implement approved programs and projects at postal and cultural village stations by relevant state management agencies in the field of information and communications.

Article 15. Responsibilities of Telecommunications Service Providers

1. Prioritize using postal and cultural village stations as public telecommunications service provision points under the Public Telecommunications Service Program.

2. Coordinate with Vietnam Post Corporation to complete infrastructure and technical facilities; train staff working at postal and cultural village stations to ensure the provision of telecommunications services at selected public telecommunications service provision points under the Public Telecommunications Service Program.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 16. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from October 1, 2013.

2. During implementation, if any issues arise or difficulties occur, organizations and individuals should report them to the Ministry of Information and Communications for consideration and resolution./.