has negative implications for the media’s ability to prepare for digital migration by 2015, as proposed by the ITU. The country’s Broadcasting Policy of 2003, which highlights the need for ICT infrastructure, is yet to come to fruition as rural dwellers continue to have limited or no access to ICTs. Poor access to media by the majority of citizens in the country also means that a significant number of citizens remain unaware of legislative avenues and forums available to guarantee their personal freedom of expression. Of note, however, is the existence of the recently established Media Consumers Consultative Council. If properly run, this Council could ensure that the public becomes aware of the workings of the media – knowledge that can extend to awareness about broader issues surrounding freedom of expression. Within the media regulatory environment, Government is notorious for giving with one hand what it takes away with the other. Although broadcasting is regulated by an independent body which is protected against political interference through supportive legislation, there are concerns that the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) is not entirely independent since both the board chairman and Director General are presidential appointees. While the broadcasting authority has a supportive environment through clearly laid down procedures on issuance of licenses and provisions for fairness and diversity in the media, the implementation of these procedures remains poor. Furthermore, stringent procedures for registering newspapers and other mass publications still persist under the Newspaper Act of 1976, with political interference thriving on these restrictive conditions. For example, the Minister of Information, who also serves as the Publicity Secretary for the ruling party, has stopped the registration of new newspapers as the country approaches a general election. Community print media is almost non-existent, and the few regional papers that do exist use English as the medium of communication – a language that most Tanzanians are unable to understand, let alone read. The costs associated with running community media outlets are also very high, thereby hampering the creation of new media, and hence, of communities’ access to media. Although there has been an expansion in community broadcasting, confusion over what constitutes community media has altered the mandate of community broadcasting currently available largely through private and institutional owners. Some positive developments have taken place since the last African Media Barometer (AMB) in 2008. There have been notable improvements in the operations and conduct of the country’s public broadcaster, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC). The fact that TBC now invites representatives of opposition political parties to air their views is a stride towards more balanced and fair coverage, which in turn benefits the masses. The fact that there is more local content in the national broadcaster’s programming than at any other television station in the country is another positive development with benefits for Tanzanians. 6 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2010