The Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) has issued fines to several electronic communications services and electronic communications network services licensees for failure to comply with various compliance requirements as administered by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA).
The errant licensees are iConnect SA, Wirels Connect, New Age Holdings, Corploc 663, Ham Radio Outlet, Orhen TeleAfrica, Multisource Telecoms, and Nexor 197. The non-compliances differ from one licensee to the other.
ICASA spokesperson Paseka Maleka says all fines amount to approximately R150 000 payable to the regulator.
"The deadline for payment varies from licensee to licensee. Some were due on 28 February and others on or before 30 April 2016," he points out.
"The compliance division has an obligation to monitor compliance with payment of fines. The division will have to refer the matter back to the CCC for a recommendation to the ICASA Council on what corrective or punitive action it must take against a licensee that fails to comply with its judgment."
ICASA says the sanctions follow rigorous compliance monitoring and enforcement, and it was found the licensees failed to submit annual audited financial statement and/or financial statements.
The regulator notes the licensees were also fined for failure to pay the prescribed annual contributions of the licensee's licenced activity to the Universal Service and Access Fund; failure to pay the prescribed annual general licence fees of the licensee's licensed activity; failure to commence operations within the legislated period subsequent to granting of the licence; and failure to update contact details to enable ICASA to monitor compliance with the obligations of their licence.
The CCC is an independent committee of the authority established in terms of section 17A Independent Communications of SA. It is required to investigate, and hear if appropriate, and make a finding on all matters referred to it by the ICASA, complaints received by the committee; and allegations of non-compliance with the ICASA Act or underlying statutes.
Share
