3.3 The body regulates broadcasting in the public interest and ensures fairness and a diversity of views broadly representing society at large. ANALYSIS: While the many radio and television stations certainly represent a diversity of views, this seems to have come about by default rather than as a result of any involvement and intention of the NCC. The NCC does not actively promote fairness and a diversity of views. There is no quota system for broadcasters in terms of local content. Such a quota system could stipulate the percentage of local news and music. It was noted that when quotas were imposed on local content in South Africa, the local music industry experienced phenomenal growth. There are very broad principles in the draft Communications Bill about promoting local content and culture, but it is not stipulated how this should be done. There appears to be a paradox between the government’s political policy emphasising unity in diversity, and its media policy, which does not actively encourage unity in diversity and dissenting voices. The provision to encourage diversity and local content does exist but the regulatory body is not doing anything actively in this regard. There was also concern that there is so much diversity within the media that many communities can isolate themselves from what is happening in Namibia – by accessing only foreign broadcasters, for example. SCORES: Individual scores: 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1 Average score: 1.8 (2005 = 2.0) 3.4 The body’s decisions on licensing in particular are informed by a broadcasting policy developed in a transparent and inclusive manner. ANALYSIS: The NCC has a policy that requires it to take into account public interest and public opinion, but there have never been any public meetings to actively involve the public in any way. A draft Communications Act has been in existence since 2002/3. There is no independent broadcasting policy. It appears that a lack of political will is stalling any development in this area. In September 2006, parastatal Telecom Namibia launched its new mobile phone service, Switch, offering calls at one-third the cost of cellphone calls. Soon thereafter existing cellphone service provider MTC objected, saying that Switch represented unfair competition and “infringed on the licensed right of mobile operators”, MTC and newcomer Cell One. Cabinet had to intervene and the Switch service was subsequently, and apparently temporarily, restricted to certain towns. At the time of this report, Swakopmund was excluded from the service because So This Is Democracy? 2007 -207- Media Institute of Southern Africa