The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa hereby notifies all interested stakeholders, applicants and media that the Authority is currently finalising the analysis of applications, representations and responses in respect of the licensing of new Individual Commercial Broadcasting (Primary and Secondary Markets) and Subscription Broadcasting Services licensing processes.
In terms of the draft strategic plan which was recently presented to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications, the Authority plans to conduct public hearings and decide on the applications in the second quarter of the current financial year i.e. July to September 2013.
On 2 February 2012, the Authority published the Invitations To Apply (ITA) for Primary Markets on Medium Wave (MW) frequencies (Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban), Secondary Markets (Eastern Cape, Free State and Northern Cape) as well as Subscription Broadcasting Services. Subsequently, the Authority received requests for extension of the closing date of the ITA for Secondary Market which was granted.
The Authority received applications and dealt with related procedural matters relating to the applications including the requests for confidentiality in terms of the relevant legislation; and published received applications on 7 December 2012 for interested parties to make written representations and for applicants to provide responses for a period of 51 days. The Authority has received written representations and some responses in respect of this process.
In lieu of the above process, the Authority would like to inform the public and applicants that this licensing process is still on track and that the details of the hearings and/or the process will be communicated in due course.
For media enquiries please contact:
Paseka Maleka
Tel: 011 566 3455
Cell: 079 509 0702
E-mail: pmaleka@icasa.org.za
