SECTOR 3 Shareholders in an audio-visual communication company have to be registered. The Press Code has no specific provisions regarding community radio stations. The country’s size and geographic configuration, make it difficult to allocate frequencies. The prefecture only allocates two frequencies, one of which is a commercial frequency. Furthermore, frequencies are sometimes reused, as there are no more frequencies available. In Lomé commercial radio stations pay an annual fee of CFA francs 100,000 (USD 200). But the State hardly ever closes down a radio station for not having paid its fees. However, commercial radio stations refuse to pay copyright fees to the Togolese Copyright Office (Butodra). Community radio stations have to pay a discounted licence and copyright fee. In spite of the discount, they have trouble paying their fees. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 3.5 (2013 = 1.8; 2010 = 2.3) 3.2 Broadcasting is regulated by an independent body that is adequately protected by law against interference and whose board is not dominated by any particular political party and is appointed – in an open way – involving civil society and not dominated by any particular political party. The HAAC’s founding act in its first article states that the regulatory body “is an institution independent from any administrative authority, any political power or political party, or any association or pressure group.” The HAAC is therefore important and independent in theory, but the panel considers that the reality on the ground is different. One panel member refers to the case of the LCF (la Chaîne du futur), a television channel which followed a pro-government editorial line for ten years. But when AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TOGO 2017 93