Click Here & Upgrade PDF Complete Expanded Features Unlimited Pages Documents and women as special groups. Currently, the emergence of GSM (mobile) communications system has increased the level of mobile teleshops most of which are owned and operated by youths. Therefore, by increasing sustainable programmes targeted at youths and women as special groups, greater empowerment opportunities can be created. A rapid survey conducted among the youths along the line of rail revealed the following; i) Using media channels for accessing information, 96% of the youths listen to the radio, 81% read newspapers, 60% read magazines, 51% access the Internet for purposes other than email; daily usage of the Internet stands at 13% with the majority being College/University students; ii) The purpose for which they access information is diverse; however, the survey reveals that 53% is for educational opportunities, 52% for sports and 48% for job opportunities; iii) About 44% of the youths own mobile phones which are used primarily for voice and sms communication; iv) Libraries on the other hand are sources of information for 59% of the youths mainly Associated with school/academic work. Some of the challenges of ICTs among youths and women are: (a) (b) (c) Low ICT literacy and skills levels especially among women; Low opportunities for access to ICT products and services; and Entry barriers (financial, skills etc) for youths and women especially as entrepreneurs. 2.12 LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK In 1994, Parliament enacted the Telecommunications Act, which resulted in the restructuring of the telecommunications sub-sector; removing the posts and telecommunications functions in the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) into two separate commercial entities: ZAMTEL and ZAMPOST. In addition, this included the removal of the regulatory functions from PTC through the establishment of an autonomous regulatory agency, the Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ). On the other hand, the regulation of the postal sub-sector is still carriedout by the Ministry of Communications and Transport through a Licensing Committee comprising various stakeholders. Currently, the CAZ is responsible for regulating the provision of telecommunications products and services in the country. Its specific functions include issuing licences and promoting competition amongst providers of telecommunications services and products, promoting the interests of consumers and other users of ICT services/ products as well as ensuring that the benefits of the sector accrue to the nation at large. In addition, the Radio Communications Act of 1994 gives the CAZ responsibility for administering the utilisation of the Radio Frequency Spectrum as a scarce national resource. 16