The High Authority of Audiovisual Communication (HACA)   The High Authority of Audiovisual Communication (HACA) is made up of the Superior council of Audiovisual Communication, which has a deliberative power and the Head Office of Audiovisual Communication which performs the administrative and technical functions. It was created on August 31, 2002 within the framework of the liberalization of the sector. This initiative is part of the concern of the consecration of pluralism, variety and consolidation of the State of law.

Missions

By virtue of the text founding the HACA, this authority is called to give its opinion to HM the King, to the government and to Parliament issues relating to the audiovisual communication sector. This opinion becomes compulsory when it deals with draft decrees or draft bills.

Besides, the HACA is entitled to elaborate the contract conditions for applicants wanting to set up a radio or television, fix rules guaranteeing the respect of the pluralistic expression of the currents of opinion and thought and the equity to which are entitled all the political, trade-union organizations, professional chambers or candidates for the elections in production, programming and broadcasting of programmes relating to election campaigns.

The HACA will have to make sure that, at the time of elections, all candidates benefit from a fair airtime on the waves of radios and antennae of the national televisions.

By virtue of the regulation mission devolved to it, the HACA examines the demands of creation and exploitation of the audiovisual communication companies, grants licenses and authorizations, assigns the radio electric frequencies allocated to the sector by the National Agency of Telecommunications Regulation (ANRT) and approves the contract conditions of the public national broadcasting companies.

The HACA has to see also that all the parties related to the audiovisual communication respect laws and regulations which govern the sector, the pluralistic expression of currents of thoughts and opinion particularly those related to politics.

In addition, this control mission allows the HACA to receive and examine the complaints concerning the violations of laws or regulations governing the sector and also the demands of exercise relating to the right of reply by every person having undergone damage because of the broadcasting of a false piece of information or damaging one’s honour.

The HACA is also entitled to sanction the malpractices committed by the bodies of the audiovisual communication or suggest to the authorities concerned sanction measures to be adopted.

For further information:

http://www.haca.ma