Johannesburg – The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is conducting a regulatory impact assessment on Must-Carry Regulations following the implementation of these regulations in 2008. The regulatory impact assessment will determine whether or not the Regulations have fulfilled their intended objectives; by looking at both economic and non-economic factors.
The Must Carry Regulations are meant to, among others, regulate the extent to which the Subscription Broadcasting Services (SBS) must carry the television programmes provided by the Public Broadcast Service Licensee (PBS); and to provide the terms and conditions under which the SBS licensees will carry the television programmes of the PBS licensee.
These regulations are a part of the universal service and access obligation imposed on subscription television services, driven by a policy objective of ensuring that PBS television programming is available to all South Africans, including those that use subscription services as their preferred means of access to television content.
ICASA has issued a questionnaire requesting data (from interested stakeholders) that will assist the Authority in making an informed decision whether or not to review the regulations. Interested stakeholders have until 26 October 2018 to send back the questionnaire for consideration.
Any queries relating to the regulatory impact assessment process can be referred to shlongwane@icasa.org.za or egopane@icasa.org.za.
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For all media enquiries please contact:
Paseka Maleka
011 566 3455
079 509 0702 pmaleka@icasa.org.za