Cabinet has approved the submission of the ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) Amendment Bill to Parliament.
This Amendment Bill is a proposal to review some of ICASA’s functions to make it more transparent and accountable. This is according to Acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams.
In a statement today, 16 May, Williams said the Amendment Bill responds to some of the issues in the NDP. She was referring to President Jacob Zuma’s announcement thatmost government programmes would be guided by proposals contained in the plan.
Willams said that amendment should not be seen as a threat to ICASA’s independence. This will improve accountability and transparency which will contribute to sound governance practices within ICASA, she maintained.
“The importance of an independent and impartial regulator for the communications sector cannot be overemphasised.”
Williams said, meanwhile, that Cabinet had also approved the submission of the Electronic Communication Amendment Bill to Parliament.
“The Amendments seeks to deal with competition promotion limitation, access to electronic communications infrastructure, communication costs as well as improving turnaround time for consultative processes.
“The Amendment Bill aligns the Act with broad-based black economic empowerment legislation; refines licensing issues; improves competition provisions; removes regulatory bottlenecks and provides for matters connected to this,” Williams said.
-New source SAnews.gov.za
(edited)
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