Botswana Sector 3: 3.1 Broadcasting regulation is transparent and independent, the stare broadcaster is transformed into a truly public broadcaster. Broadcasting is regulated by an independent body adequately protected against interference, particularly of a political and economic nature. ANALYSIS: According to the 1998 Broadcasting Act, the National Broadcasting Board (NBB) is appointed by the minister in charge of broadcasting. The board comprises an officer from the Office of the President, an officer from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, an officer from the Department of Cultural and Social Welfare, a representative of the Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA), and seven persons appointed from a list of 10 candidates nominated by a Nominating Committee. This Committee consists of a member of the Law Society, the Vice-Chancellor of the University and a representative of the Office of the President. The Board is funded by the ministry, reports to the ministry, and the BTA serves as the Secretariat to the Board. Especially the role of the BTA as Secretariat was questioned, given that it creates the possibility of the BTA dominating the Board in its decision-making. The Board would need to have its own independent staff to do its work without direct interference from the BTA in order to be really independent and seen to be so. There are plans to merge BTA and NBB to set up a combined body to deal with all aspects of broadcasting and ICT. The present minister regards such a merger as a matter of priority. Currently stakeholders have no information on the nature and structure of the envisaged Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority. 28 African Media Barometer - Botswana 2007