SECTOR 3 3.2 Broadcasting is regulated by an independent body adequately protected by law against interference whose board is appointed - in an open way - involving civil society and not dominated by any particular political party. The regulatory body for the broadcasting industry is the High Communication Authority (Haute Autorité de la Communication, HAC). Law 003, which created the Authority, has been in force since its promulgation by the President of the transitional government on June 22, 2011. For the time being, however, and in line with the provisions of the transitional constitution, the existing National Communication Council (Conseil National de la Communication, CNC) continues to play the role of regulator until the next National Assembly has been constituted and, in turn, puts the HAC in place. Elections for the legislature are scheduled for November 2011. The CNC was created by Law L91/006 and, according to article 1, is organised as a financially independent legal entity - which shields it from government interferences. In line with its status as an independent administrative authority, its budget is provided for by the Finance Act. Out of the nine members of the CNC, six are appointed for five years and three for three years. The President of the Republic appoints two of the six longer-serving members, one of them being the Chairman. The others come from the ranks of the National Assembly, the Supreme Magistrates’ Council, media professionals, other staff and post and telecommunications. The remaining three members who serve a three year are appointed from among cinema owners, printers, bookshop owners, librarians and archivists. The HAC is to be composed of 11 members, “one of them being appointed by the President of the Republic, one by the President of the National Assembly, one by the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, five by professional associations, one by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, one by the association of printers, librarians and archivists, one by the association of film-makers and photographers”. The HAC President is to be elected by his or her peers under the supervision of the Constitutional Court. In the case of the CNC and even more so the HAC, the way members are appointed does, in the opinion of panelists, safeguard the independence of the regulator. The question is whether in practice this will protect the body against outside interference and whether it will really have the means to regulate private or public media. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GUINEA 2011 99