2.4 Broadcasting legislation has been passed and is implemented that provides for a conducive environment for public, commercial and community broadcasting. ANALYSIS: The Lesotho Telecommunications Act has been passed but it doesn’t provide a conducive environment. Radio Lesotho is a state broadcaster. The telecommunications authority board is still appointed by the Minister of Communications. The new act has introduced higher fees. Application for community radio licence, for example, has increased from M300 to M8 800, and renewal from M1 000 to M2 000. Application fees for commercial radio licence have increased from M300 00 to M8 800, and renewal costs M10 000. The current board is flawed. Several of the current board members should be requested to step down merely because of potential conflict of interest. Score – 2,3,2,2,1,2,2,2 = 2.0 2.5 Community broadcasting enjoys special promotion given its potential to broaden access by poor and rural communities. ANALYSIS: Initially the LCA omitted provision for the licensing of community broadcasting, but now provision has now been made. Score – 1,3,1,1,1,1,1,1 = 1.3 2.6 The editorial independence of print media published by public authority is protected adequately against undue political interference. ANALYSIS: Lesotho Today has no editorial independence. Score – 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1 = 1.0 So This Is Democracy? 2008 -163- Media Institute of Southern Africa