HAITI Media and Telecoms Landscape Guide - Infoasaid

25Press freedom and media regulationThe Haitian media has flourished since the fall of the Duvalier regime in 1986 in theabsence of formal state controls.Radio and TV licenses are issued by the state-run Conseil National desTélécommunications (CONATEL) www.conatel.gouv.ht solely on the basis oftechnical considerations. Applicants must also a pay a fee.CONATEL does not regulate or monitor broadcast content.There is no specific legislation governing the internet, but the government has neverattempted to impose any controls on web access.Community radio stations have flourished since 1986. By 2012, there were about 40of them on air. However, Haiti does not have any special legislation to protect orpromote their activity.The Sosyete Animasyon Kominikasyon (SAKS) www.saks-haiti.org , an NGOwhich has helped to set up 20 community radio stations in Haiti, has drafted a bill todefine and protect the special status of community radio stations.This has been presented to parliament.In December 2011, Haiti’s main media associations adopted a code of conduct thatdefines the rights and duties of the Haitian media.This is the first media code to be adopted in Haiti. However, no organisation hasbeen tasked with enforcing respect for its guidelines.Given the lack of official constraints on the media and the low level of professionaltraining of most journalists, the principles upheld by the new media code arefrequently breached with impunity by local radio stations.25