The Universal Services and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) has extended the public comment period for the proposed qualifying criteria for set-top box (STB) subsidies.
USAASA issued the proposed qualifying criteria for public comment in October, with an initial closing date of 30 November, which has now been extended to 28 February 2015, "in keeping with the spirit for broader inclusion and public participation".
As part of SA's digital migration process, USAASA is required to manage the disbursement of STB subsidies to poor TV-owning households located throughout the country.
"To ensure that these subsidies are adequately distributed, USAASA is required to firstly develop a criteria by which TV-owning households will qualify for subsidies, and secondly, to put in place infrastructure, systems and processes to manage the distribution of subsidies to qualifying households and ensure the acquisition of STBs by these households," said the agency in a statement.
In October, the agency issued proposed STB subsidies that range from 66% for no-income households, to 15% for those earning up to R2 499 a month. In areas needing satellite transmission, the subsidy ranges from 77% for no-or-low income households, to 29% for those with an income up to R3 200 a month.
Subsidies will apply only to valid TV licence-holders, including concessionary TV licence-holders, and on proof of ownership of an operational TV set, South African citizenship and household income or dependency on social grants, USAASA said at the time.
In addition, the agency will embark on a national road show between 22 January and 28 February for further engagements with interested parties on this project. "Through this process, USAASA will meet various stakeholders, including - but not limited to - traditional leadership, local government and non-governmental organisations."
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