Communications Bill awaiting tabling….

A draft communications bill probably to be entitled the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Amendment Bill, published in late 2012 for public comment is awaited in the form of a tabling by Minister Dina Pule.

The primary purpose of the proposed bill from the documents published for comment it seems is to set up a complaints and compliance commission (CCC) as a separate body from the independent communications authority of South Africa (ICASA) and thus gain consumer impartiality.

Electronic transactions the focus

The Bill also proposes a number of important provisions regarding electronic communications networks and services used in electronic transactions.   Mechanisms are also introduced to ensure the accountability of committees, ICASA and their councillors and for ICASA to relate more closely to the Public Finance Management Act.

Early 2013 tabling

The public participation period was concluded before the end of December and the new parliamentary session should see this Bill tabled in the next few months.