MoIC to restructure communication sector in line with federal system

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, June 4: Minister for Information and Communication Dr. Bikram Timilsina has said that the ministry has taken significant decision to restructure communication sector in accordance with the country’s federal structure.

Minister Dr. Timilsina made this remark during a thematic committee meeting of the Ministry of Information and Communication (MoIC) held among the officials at the Ministry on Wednesday. The thematic committee under the Ministry was formed under Section 22 of the Intergovernmental Coordination and Interrelation Act-2077. 

The committee meeting endorsed a series of wide-ranging reforms aimed at improving coordination, clarity of responsibilities, and efficiency in service delivery across all three tiers of government.

Chaired by Minister Dr. Timilsina, the thematic committee meeting focused on addressing structural challenges within the communication sector, updating outdated legal frameworks, advancing digital systems, and integrating service delivery mechanisms.

One of the key decisions relates to the management of radio equipment licensing. It was agreed that provincial governments will coordinate in accordance with the Radio Act-2014 and the Radio Communication (Licensing) Regulations-2049. 

In addition, suggestions from all provinces will be collected to initiate a broader legal reform process, according to the meeting’s decision.

The meeting has also decided to move forward with amendments to the Printing and Publication Act-2049 in order to resolve existing confusion surrounding the registration and renewal of online media outlets. Particular attention will be given to addressing difficulties faced by online media registered under provincial laws, with immediate regulatory amendments planned to streamline the renewal process.

The committee further endorsed the development of an integrated digital system for the communications sector to strengthen governance and transparency. This system will bring together the ministry, provincial and local governments, and the Press Council Nepal into a unified database for the registration, renewal, monitoring, and record-keeping of media institutions.

In another major initiative, the government plans to revitalise the postal service by transforming it into a state-run courier system. The postal network will be used to deliver essential public documents such as passports, driving licences, SIM cards, and academic certificates directly to citizens’ homes. 

The committee meeting also urged coordination among provincial and local governments to support this transformation.

Concerns regarding encroachment of postal land and assets were also discussed, with a decision to work with local authorities to reclaim and protect affected properties. Furthermore, all levels of government have been encouraged to allocate resources through policy and budgeting processes to support the modernisation, diversification, and digital transformation of postal services.

The committee further decided to implement model guidelines prepared by the Advertising Board, alongside model legislation for local governments, in order to address inconsistencies in the advertising sector. The objective is to ensure a transparent, accountable, and uniform advertising system across all tiers of government.

In the art and creative sectors, the meeting proposed developing film, documentary, photography, and digital content production as a recognised industry. It also aimed to promote Nepal as an international destination for film shooting by highlighting its natural and cultural heritage, with commitments from all levels of government to facilitate this initiative.

Additional decisions included the effective use of the Rural Telecommunications Development Fund to expand broadband access in rural areas, standardisation of government gazette printing in line with federal formats, and promotion of news production in mother tongues as recommended by the Language Commission.

The meeting also prioritised tackling misinformation and promoting responsible journalism through public awareness programmes. The meeting also approved the ‘Work Procedure on Meetings and Decisions of Thematic Committee-2083,’ and decided to regularly monitor the implementation of the decisions made by the committee.