Freedom of Information

Eligible persons are entitled to submit Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Malta Communications Authority (MCA). The requests have to be in written format on prescribed forms and have to be delivered to the MCA, either electronically - by email or through the portal www.foi.gov.mt - or manually (by hand or by post).

Freedom of Information Act (English Version)

Freedom of Information Act (Maltese Version)

Submitting a Request / Complaint

Eligible Persons:

In order to be eligible to submit FOI requests, a person has to be a resident in Malta and to have been so for a period of at least five years. Such person has to be also either a citizen of Malta or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union or a citizen of any other state the citizens of which have a right, in virtue of any treaty between such state and the European Union, to be treated in Malta in the same manner as citizens of member states of the European Union.

FOI request / complaint can be submitted via the e-ID on the FOI Portal (www.foi.gov.mt). An online request can also be done for both the FOI request and FOI complaint without the need for the applicants to register through e-ID.

Alternatively the FOI request form or Complaint form can be submitted by email to foi.mca@mca.org.mt or by post to the Freedom of Information Officer, Malta Communications Authority, Valletta Waterfront, Pinto Wharf, Floriana, FRN1913. 

Obtaining a copy of the Forms:

Application Forms (and Complaints Forms) are available for download from this website or from the Freedom of Information website at http://www.foi.gov.mt.

 Request Form (English Version)

 Request Form (Maltese Version)

Information to be Provided

When filling in the application form applicants are required, apart from providing contact details, to give an indication of the document/information that they wish to obtain. They also need to indicate the format in which they wish to receive such document/information, namely as a hard copy/print-out, as an electronic copy, in the form of a summary/excerpt of contents or by on-site inspection of the document / information in question. Copies of the ID card or passport and/or additional documentation, as deemed necessary may be requested, in the case of requests relating specifically to the individual, individual's assets/interests/right of access.

Types of Requests

In essence, one may ask for any article that is held by the MCA and on which information has been recorded in whatever form, including electronic data, images, scale models and other visual representations, and audio or video recordings, regardless of whether the information can be read, seen, heard or retrieved with or without the aid of any other article or device. One may also ask for documentation which contains policies, principles, rules or guidelines in accordance with which decisions or recommendations are made in respect of members of the public (including bodies corporate and employees of the public authority in their personal capacity). Furthermore eligible persons have the right to request information (in the form of a written statement) on a decision or recommendation made in their respect or in respect of a body corporate which they represent.

Acknowledgements

FOI requests will be duly acknowledged by the MCA. The acknowledgement forms will include a unique reference number and an indication of the date by when the response will be given. The forms will also include specific information related to the MCA, such as our address, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, opening hours and also details of our internal complaints procedure.

Checks to be carried out by the MCA

On receipt of the application form, the MCA will verify whether the request qualifies as an FOI request and will inform the applicant accordingly if this is not the case. If it transpires that additional information/documentation is required, applicants will be contacted by the MCA and they will be provided with all possible assistance in order to ensure that such request complies with the provisions of the Act. This notwithstanding, when submitting an FOI request, applicants are not required to provide any justifications for requesting any particular documentation / information.

The MCA will also verify whether the requested document / information is held at its’ end. If this is not the case the MCA will seek to identify the proper entity to whom the request should be submitted and will transfer such application accordingly (informing the applicant in the process). If no alternative entity is identified (meaning that the document/information cannot be traced at any Public Authority) the applicant will be informed accordingly.

Processing of request

Once it establishes that a request is an FOI request and can be addressed from its end, the MCA will determine whether it can provide the applicant with the document / information requested (in full or in part) or whether it will refuse the request. Prior to taking a decision in this regard, the MCA shall consider whether any of the exemptions listed in the FOI Act apply. The MCA will submit notification of whether the request will be accepted or not within 20 working days from its receipt. An additional 20 working days extension can be further applied, brining up the total to a maximum of 40 working days from the date of the receipt of the original request.

Payment of Fee

When submitting a response to the Applicant, the MCA will indicate whether any fees apply. If applicable, such fees shall cover only the costs related to making a document available to the applicant, namely man-hours of processing, costs of photocopies/faxes and digital media and costs related to inspections. Notwithstanding the above, the total applicable fee will not exceed €40. No additional fees will be incurred for submitting applications or complaints.

The application of fees is regulated by L.N. 158 of 2010.

Remedial Action:

If the applicant is not satisfied with the response provided by the MCA vis-à-vis its request, the applicant is entitled to submit a complaint. If, subsequently, the applicant remains unsatisfied with the response received from the MCA, he/she may lodge an appeal with the Information and Data Protection Commissioner (IDPC).  If the applicant remains dissatisfied with the outcome of the appeal he/she may appeal to the Information and Data Protection Tribunal and, subsequently, to the Court of Appeal. Complaints may be submitted for the following reasons:

If the Request has not been deemed to be an FOI request:

• The MCA has applied an extension to the 20-working day deadline to notify the application whether access would be given to the document / information requested;
• The MCA has imposed a fee which is deemed to be excessive;
• The document is not being provided in the requested format;
• The request is being refused.

One may also submit a complaint if the MCA does not respect the 20 working day deadline (or the deadline indicated in the notification of extension, if applicable) for submitting a response.

Complaint Form (Maltese Version)

Complaint Form (English Version)

Complaint Form to IDPC (Maltese Version)

Complaint Form to IDPC (English Version)

Receiving documentation / information

Whenever the MCA communicates a decision to an Applicant that access to a document / information will be granted, the applicant shall also be invited to effect payment of fees (if applicable). Within 10 working days following payment, the MCA will provide the document / information in the same format as the applicant had originally requested or, if this is not possible, in any other format deemed appropriate by the MCA. Applicants who submit requests through the FOI portal (www.foi.gov.mt) may be provided with the possibility of downloading the document / information directly from the site.

If no fee will be charged, the document / information will be provided within 10 working days following notification. The request shall be considered to have been abandoned by the applicant if payment is not effected within 20 working days following notification. 

Information provided according to Article 17 of the Freedom of Information Act may be viewed by accessing the above links or by contacting the Principal Freedom of Information Officer, Ministry for Competitiveness and Digital, Maritime and Services Economy, Level 6, Palazzo Spinola, St Christopher Street, Valletta - Tel: (+356) 22917300

The Freedom of Information Act (Cap. 496) (FOIA) places obligations on public authorities (including ministries, departments and public sector entities) to provide access to documents held by them, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Act. 

Contact Details

Freedom of Information Officer

Malta Communications Authority

Valletta Waterfront, Pinto Wharf, Floriana, FRN1913

Tel: +356 21 336 840 Fax: +356 21 336 846

Email: foi.mca@mca.org.mt

Documents

General Description of the Categories of Documents held by MCA

Description of all Manuals and Similar types of Documents held by MCA

MCA Decisions

MCA Guidelines

Forms

Request for Documents [Maltese / English]

Complaint to MCA Form [Maltese / English)

Complaint to Information and Data Protection Commissioner Form [Maltese / English]

Related Links

Organisational Structure

Functions and Responsibilities of Staff