Industry bodies say they are unhappy with government`s refusal to extend the deadline for submissions on the draft Convergence Bill beyond Friday, despite repeated requests to do so.
Several key players believe that because the issue has such an important and direct impact on SA, and because it is so complex, a few weeks` extension on the deadline would have been warranted, in order for all parties to properly apply their minds to it.
Mike van den Bergh, chairman of the Communications Users Association of SA (CUASA), says the bill is of national importance, as it has a direct impact on both telecoms and broadcasting and is crucial to the country`s future.
"The bill is fundamental and critical to the way telecoms and broadcasting will be structured and governed in the future, and as such we feel it is short-sighted not to afford the industry additional time to discuss the issue."
Ant Brooks, head of regulatory affairs at the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA), another body that requested a deadline extension, agrees with this, as he believes additional time can only be of benefit to all concerned.
"A two or three week extension to the process would be most useful to us all, as there are a number of definitions in the bill that are still somewhat unclear and it would benefit the industry greatly to be able to focus on these in-depth," he says.
"It is such an important piece of legislation for the country that it would seem both silly and a shame to rush it at this point."
Both Brooks and Van den Bergh pointed out that - with the large number of public holidays in March - many players have not been able to apply the appropriate time and effort to such a significant issue, hence the requests for an extension.
"There are no vested interests in us asking for an extension, as it is simply a matter of looking at the broader picture for the greater good of SA," says Van den Bergh.
"It is critical that the industry`s voice be heard if we are not to find ourselves locked up in a constant cycle of litigation and recrimination."
He points out that while the written submissions are the first step in an ongoing process, players will now simply have to submit additional material during the public hearings that will be held on the new draft.
"We understand that government wants to see the Convergence Bill passed as soon as possible, just as the industry does, but it is so important in the greater scheme of things that we must ensure it is put together properly."
Another industry source, who asked not to be named, claimed that at least part of the reason the deadline was not pushed forward was due to the fact that the chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, Mpetjane Legoro, hadn`t really had a chance to study the requests for an extension as he has been in Zimbabwe, playing the role of election observer.
However, CUASA spokesman Ray Webber says Legoro recently told him that although there will be no extension, late submissions that are received prior to 15 April would still be considered by the committee.
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