open for written public comments
26 September 2007

The draft Electronic Communications Amendment Bill, which is to be introduced in Parliament before the end of the year, has been opened for written public comments, by Communications Minister, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri.

The objective of the Bill is to amend the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 so as to empower the minister to issue a policy direction. It seeks to provide an opportunity for government to make strategic interventions on infrastructure investments whenever it deems necessary.

In amending the Act government will be able to address some of the significant challenges of reducing the cost to communicate by providing infrastructure at wholesale rates to other operators, improve on government service delivery and link Nepad Broadband with Africa/Latin America and Europe.

The Bill will also allow for the provision of much needed bandwidth for strategic projects and consumers.

Section 1 of the Act has been amended to provide for the insertion of a new definition after the definition of “public broadcasting service” of the following definition: “Public entity’ as the meaning assigned to it in section 1 of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999".

Section 5 of the Act has also been amended by the addition of a subsection to give the minister the authority to enable licensing of public entities including municipalities, initiate and facilitate intervention by government to ensure strategic ICT infrastructure investment and provide for a frame work for the licensing of a public entity by the authority.

The Department of Public Enterprises, the Independent Communications Authority of South African, the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa, the Nationals Electronic Media Institute of South Africa, Telkom, Neotel and Vodacom were institutions that were consulted on the amendments.

The minister has invited members of the public to submit written comments to the draft Bill following the issue of the general notice published in the government gazette on 17 September 2007.

Members of the public have 30 working days to submit their written comments. 

To access the draft bill, members of the public are advised to visit: www.doc.gov.za, under News.

Written comments on the proposed Bill may be sent to the following addresses:
For attention: Project Manager
Telecommunications Policy
Department of Communications
Private Bag X860
Pretoria
0001

Or to be delivered at:

First Floor, Block A3
iParioli Office Park
399 Duncan Street
Hatfield
Or fax to: 012 427 8059
Fax e-mail to: 012 421 8110
Or e-mail to ecaamendment@doc.gov.za
The policy decisions and directions were announced in May during the Department of Communications Budget Vote in the National Assembly.

For more please contact Ms Matlala at 012 427 8081.