The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has called on the public and interested bodies to make written submissions on a discussion document to review the Universal Service and Access Obligations (USAOs).
The discussion document, which was published on 17 August 2010 in the Government Gazette, seeks to review the current USAO regulatory framework, including the need for the development and publication of regulations in terms of the provisions of the Electronic Communications Act.
USAOs refer to a range of obligations imposed on telecoms licensees, related either to their service or spectrum licence, that are necessary in overcoming the “digital divide”, explains ICASA.
Interested persons are requested to submit their written comments on the discussion document by no later than 4pm on 12 November 2010.
USAASA on the mend
The call for comment comes shortly after the appointment of Phineas Moleele as CEO of the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA). His appointment comes after the agency's 16-month hunt for a suitable candidate.
Last year, then CEO James Theledi was axed by the USAASA board, after being found guilty of sexual harassment by an internal disciplinary committee. His appeal and subsequent legal wrangling were cited among the reasons for the delay in appointing a new CEO.
Moleele has his work cut out for him, following last year's criticism that the agency was ineffective in its mandate of promoting the goal of universal service and access.
Ismail Vadi, Parliament's communications committee chairman, said at the time the country would be better off saving the R30 million budget required to run the agency. “We have heard from academics and others that SA's position as an ICT country is slipping, that other countries are becoming more effective and overtaking us in the global ICT arena. So I have to ask what real effect is a small agency such as USAASA having?”
Also in the spotlight at the time was the Universal Service and Access Fund, into which telecommunications operators pay a levy of 0.02% of their annual turnover to increase universal access to the poorer segments of society.
USAASA is supposed to use this fund in a number of ways, including subsidising access costs, building and maintaining community access centres and other projects.
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