1. 2. V Private Broadcasting States shall encourage a diverse, independent private broadcasting sector. A State monopoly over broadcasting is not compatible with the right to freedom of expression. The broadcast regulatory system shall encourage private and community broadcasting in accordance with the following principles: there shall be equitable allocation of frequencies between private broadcasting uses, both commercial and community; an independent regulatory body shall be responsible for issuing broadcasting licences and for ensuring observance of licence conditions; licensing processes shall be fair and transparent, and shall seek to promote diversity in broadcasting; and community broadcasting shall be promoted given its potential to broaden access by poor and rural communities to the airwaves. VI Public Broadcasting State and government controlled broadcasters should be transformed into public service broadcasters, accountable to the public through the legislature rather than the government, in accordance with the following principles: public broadcasters should be governed by a board which is protected against interference, particularly of a political or economic nature; the editorial independence of public service broadcasters should be guaranteed; public broadcasters should be adequately funded in a manner that protects them from arbitrary interference with their budgets; public broadcasters should strive to ensure that their transmission system covers the whole territory of the country; and the public service ambit of public broadcasters should be clearly defined and include an obligation to ensure that the public receive adequate, politically balanced information, particularly during election periods. VII Regulatory Bodies for Broadcast and Telecommunications 1. Any public authority that exercises powers in the areas of broadcast or telecommunications regulation should be independent and adequately protected against interference, particularly of a political or economic nature. 2. The appointments process for members of a regulatory body should be open and transparent, involve the participation of civil society, and shall not be controlled by any particular political party. 3. Any public authority that exercises powers in the areas of broadcast or telecommunications should be formally accountable to the public through a multi-party body. VIII Print Media 1. Any registration system for the print media shall not impose substantive restrictions on the right to freedom of expression. 2. Any print media published by a public authority should be protected adequately against undue political interference. 3. Efforts should be made to increase the scope of circulation of the print media, particularly to rural communities. So This Is Democracy? 2008 -304- Media Institute of Southern Africa