Documents
The Astronomy Geographic Advantage Bill (AGA Bill)
The Constitution of South Africa requires that broadcasting in South Africa be regulated by an independent authority (ICASA). Certain provisions of the Astronomy Geographic Bill, however, give the Minister of Science and Technology and/or the Management Authority to be established in terms of section 15 of the Bill, and such Management Authorities will be vested with powers which will infringe on the powers of ICASA. In the NAB’s view, this is in contravention of Section 192 of the Constitution.
On 31 July 2007, the NAB made an oral submission before the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology highlighting these issues. The submission was a follow up of a written submission the NAB had submitted on 18 July 2007 in response to the Astronomy Geographic Bill.
Proposed Codes of Conduct for Licencees
Draft Regulations for Sectors to meet the need of people with disabilites
On 14 June 2007, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (“ICASA”) published notice number 765 of 2007, in government gazette number 29986, (“the notice”). In the notice, ICASA invited interested persons to submit written representations to its intention to make regulations in respect of the Electronic Communications, Broadcasting and Postal sectors to meet the needs of people with disabilities (“the proposed regulations”) in terms of section 70 read with section 4(1) of the EC Act as well as section 2(h) of the Postal Services Act 1244 of 1998. The closing date for written submissions was 20 July 2007. The NAB made a written submission in this regard.
Subsequently, on 20 September 2007, ICASA invited stakeholders to participate in a consultative workshop, which was intended to assist in the finalisation of the regulations on the code for people with disabilities.