The Department of Communications (DoC) has gazetted the draft Electronic Communications Amendment Bill for public consultation. The Department wishes to table this Bill in Parliament during the course of the 2012 Legislative Programme.
The Bill seeks to amend the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 in order to give clarity and to strengthen the powers, role and the functions of the Minister and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). This Bill intends to improve the turn-around times for consultation processes; to make provision for policy on ownership and control; and to revise the role of the Minister and the Authority regarding frequency spectrum management.
Additionally, the Bill will also seeks to refine the licensing issues as well as improving the competition provisions, and to remove regulatory challenges and any other issues around the matter.
The Bill on the 04 November 2011 on the Government Gazette NO. 34730 and is available on the Department’s website, www.doc.gov.za.
