(b) Infrastructure for ICT Development States agreed to endeavour to develop a national information and communication infrastructure, which aims at facilitating efficient communication and information exchange within nations, between member States, the SADC Secretariat and the rest of the world: special consideration should be given to rural and remote areas, under-privileged urban areas, institutions of learning, health, women's organisations, community media groups and other key stakeholders. (c) Community Participation and Governance in ICT Development States undertook to ensure that information and communication technology does not increase existing disparities between men and women, the rich and poor, rural and urban populations communities should be encouraged to participate at all levels. (d) ICT in Business Development States undertook to work together to remove barriers of electronic commerce in the SADC countries as a means to opening opportunities and benefits such as increased access to markets, opportunities to create economic value from cultural assets, reduced administrative costs, and improvement of public services. There is a need to adopt and adapt technologies that increase e-commerce capability to avoid increasing exclusion from the global economy. e) Human Resource Capacity for ICT Development A comprehensive human resource development plan in the area of ICT should be formulated to enable the region to meet its needs and participate as an equal partner in the new technologically informed global economy. The effective use of ICT presumes a literate population able to use the tools provided by the new technologies. SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology Although not included in the terms of reference of this study, the SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology was ratified by the Namibian National Assembly on July 30 1997. Therefore, this too is binding on Namibia. The Protocol includes a chapter (Chapter 10) on telecommunications, which has an Article on Broadcasting (Article 10.4). The Protocol’s focus is the harmonisation of transport, communications and meteorology infrastructure, the general objective of the Protocol being to: “M establish transport, communications and meteorology systems which provide efficient, cost-effective and fully integrated infrastructure and operations, which best meet the needs of customers and promote economic and social development while being environmentally and economically sustainable.” In terms of the objectives of the Telecommunications chapter (Article 10.1), member States agreed: “Mto take advantage of international technological developments and to develop national telecommunications networks for the provision of reliable effective and affordable telecommunications services in order to: a) ensure adequate high quality and efficient services responsive to the diverse needs of commerce and industry in support of the regional social and economic growth; b) achieve regional universal service with regard to telecommunications services and regional universal access to advanced information services; and Namibia Media Law Audit – report final draft 15