• Advice and participate in the Universal Access Fund Steering Committee chaired by the Ministry of Communications Science and Technology Ownership and control • Encourage participation of local people in the ownership and control of ICT facilities, networks as well as in provision of ICT Services. Competition • Promote fair competition between ICT providers • Develop and Monitor compliance to an ICT competition policy. • Allow all ICT providers freedom in pursuit of their commercial activities, while safe guiding the interests of the public taking into consideration the ICT policy Objectives, and those of Government. Standards • Undertake type –approval of customer premise equipment and set the rules for their connection to the networks. • Set applicable Technical and quality standards in consultation with ICT industry and consumer bodies. • Determine interconnection and numbering guidelines facilitate interconnection negotiations and approve interconnection agreements. Furthermore the Authority will be responsible for: • Educating consumers. In all matters pertaining to the ICT sector. • Growing the industry. The Authority shall actively promote the development and expansion of the ICT industry in Lesotho in conjunction with stakeholders • Recruiting and retaining qualified personnel. Because of the complex, constantly evolving nature of the ICT industry, it is of critical importance that the staff of the Authority be qualified in their related discipline. A qualified and professional staff will build confidence with industry and improve the functional capacity of the Authority ICT Policy for Lesotho 53