26 - Communication Companies and Business Houses on the Net; - Audiovisual, public and private Communication Businesses; - Public and Private Newspapers and periodical publications; - Journalists. The Council also organizes short training courses for the holders of press cards, for trainee journalists, for freelance journalists and programmes of continued training and specialization for professional journalists and communication technicians. The Council deliberates on all issues relative to the media and communications. All the draft laws relative to media activities are submitted to it for consideration and comment. In the event that they fail in their obligations the Council transmits observations to the Heads of the Institutions of the faulty Journalists and, should the need arise, imposes sanctions on them as set out by the media law. 9.2. Some historic decisions taken by the NCC In the NCC’s recent history it has taken major decisions in the promotion of press freedom which deserve to be highlighted: - In 2001, the NCC ruled in favour of acquitting the Head of the Information Agency Net Press who had been jailed for having recaptured a piece of news disseminated on a website domiciled abroad in a publication. - On 14 July 2005, the NCC suspended the broadcasts of the African Public Radio (RPA) for disparagement in its frequency of this media regulatory Institution. - On 9 October 2008, the NCC filed away without further action the RPA’s formal notice dossier which had agreed to make amends, through the media, for the wrongs caused to the individuals who had laid a complaint to the Council. At the time when Burundi was preparing to hold new general elections in 2010, the NCC again played a delicate role in regulating the media during sensitive times. It had given clear guidance to the media professionals in relation to their responsibilities, the need for accuracy and impartiality, integrity and dignity, the bad behaviour and media offences to be avoided, as well as possible mistakes during this electoral period.