ICASA 'must find balance'

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) must find a balance in dealing with the various challenges it faces if the sector is to move forward in terms of the digital migration era.

So says MP Sikhumbuzo Kholwane, chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communication, speaking at ICASA's international conference on the review of existing broadcasting regulatory framework this morning.

The conference, says ICASA, aims to review the existing analogue broadcasting regulatory frameworks to be in line with the digital era. International speakers from across the globe will address stakeholders over the next two days on the issue of SA's digital strategy in the context of international paradigms. Speakers from chapter nine institutions, broadcaster organisations, manufacturing sector, consumer and communication forums will also be in attendance.

Addressing ICASA officials as the conference kicked off this morning, Kholwane said the three major challenges the authority faces are inequality, poverty and unemployment. “These need to be addressed and I hope we can crystallise the issues we speak about in this context. Ultimately the aim is to improve the lives of our people.”

The other inflexible prerequisite that ICASA must meet when reviewing regulatory framework, said Kholwane, is that of transformation. “We cannot remain stagnant. The honeymoon for ownership of communications is over and we need to ensure that we don't remain where we were a few years ago. That responsibility has been outsourced to ICASA and we want to see this sector transformed and going forward. At the moment the sector, particularly in broadcasting, seems to be stagnant.”

He further said that, in order for innovation to be facilitated and healthy competition propagated, “barriers have to be removed by the regulator”. Kholwane said it is not apparent that this is being done by ICASA, and encouraged the body to equal the playing fields by applying more energy and focus to the removal of obstructions to progress. “[Government wants] ICASA to take its rightful place as an authority. The body must lead, not follow, the sector. I dream of a revolutionary ICASA.”

The role of local content in the sector, said Kholwane, “leaves a lot to be desired”.

“In terms of our 'South Africanness' it seems as though we don't take ourselves seriously. We have indigenous languages to represent and cannot be shy about it. SA's diversity must find its expression in broadcasting and it is currently not doing that. This must change, or we will legislate.”

In concluding, Kholwane said digital migration must be used as an avenue to transform the sector. “When it comes to transformation we must have no fear. Digital migration is the key that will help transform the sector.”

The conference, taking place in Sandton today and tomorrow, will see “regulatory lessons” from, among others, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission and the Communications Commission of the Isle of Man.