Business Day reports that South Africa’s television and telecommunications industries are objecting to proposed amendments to the Electronic Communications Act which they maintain will put too much control in the hands of the Department of Communications (DoC) and its Minister.
The amendments are seen as threatening the independence of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) as the regulator will be required to implement, without question, any policy directives the Minister may issue.
Another key issue in the amendments is the Ministry’s desire to have more power over the management of the radio frequency spectrum, which may see a conflict of interests given that the government has shares in companies that may apply for spectrum.
