The Act was put into operation on 18 May 2011, which was also when the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) was established. Kaapanda said the CRAN board and the ministry are currently discussing the transfer of funds and other assets and liabilities to the regulatory body.

A report by the Namibian on the 11 July 2011 stated that, CRAN is still in the process of developing regulations regarding the frequency plan and new license and universal service fees.
Kaapanda said CRAN would also join the digital terrestrial television migration forum.

Five regulations were gazetted that deal with the regulation of transitional procedures for telecommunications and broadcasting service- and spectrum use of licenses; submissions of interconnection agreements and tariffs; consumer complaints; and the setting out of broadcasting and telecommunications service license categories.

The body is still in the process of setting itself up operationally and administratively, while coordinating with industry players to transform the sector, said Kaapanda. The minister said CRAN should attract and retain competent and suitably qualified employees at market related packages.

Stanley Shanapinda was appointed as the acting CEO in June, but questions arose over the transfer of four of the six staff of the Namibia Communications Commission (NCC) to the information ministry.

Two technical staff of the NCC were retained on a temporary basis to "help out" at the new structure, and were reportedly made offers by the CRAN board. //End//
 
Reagan Malumo
Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht St
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
Phone: +264 61 232 975
Fax: +264 61 248 016
Mobile: +264 81 311 2626
Official Email: reagan(@)misa.org
Private Email: reagan32002(@)yahoo.com

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