3.3 The body regulates broadcasting in the public interest and ensures fairness and a diversity of views broadly representing society at large. ANALYSIS: Regulations for licensing broadcasters were passed in October 2004 but the broadcasting policy is yet to be approved by government. The NBB has not yet had the opportunity to regulate in the public interest and ensuring fairness and a diversity of views because of the absence of a broadcasting policy to guide it. The NBB would be free to implement its regulations regardless and issue licences for commercial and community radio stations. So far, it has only granted a licence for Radio Botswana 1. One of the licence conditions is that Radio Botswana 1 should have an independent board. However, the station was not given any time frame within which to transform into a public broadcaster, and the duration of the licence is ten years. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 3.4 1, 3, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1 1.3 The body’s decisions on licensing in particular are informed by a broadcasting policy developed in a transparent and inclusive manner. ANALYSIS: The policy was developed in an open and transparent manner. The public had a chance to submit proposals and comments and there was an extensive public consultation process. However, the policy has not been adopted by government and it can thus not yet serve as a basis for the decisions of the NBB. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 3.5 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 1.0 The public broadcaster is accountable to the public through a board representative of society at large and selected in an independent, open and transparent manner. ANALYSIS: The Broadcasting Act defines the “public broadcasting service” as “any statutory body which is funded either wholly or partly through State revenues”. Radio Botswana and Botswana Television are directly controlled and managed by the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: So This Is Democracy? 2005 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 1.0 -200- Media Institute of Southern Africa