The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) yesterday, Thursday, 27 September 2007, announced the venue and agenda of the public hearings for the conversion of all communications licences in terms of the Electronic Communications Act. The hearings commence on Monday, 1 October 2007.
The venue is Cedar Park Hotel and Conference Centre, 120 Western Service Road, Woodmead, Sandton, Johannesburg.
The schedule of the public hearings is as follows:
Monday 1 October: Industry Briefing: the Licence Conversion Process
9am – 1pm
Process overview
Convergence mapping: detailing suggestions re: existing licences into ECA licences:
Ministerial policy directions
Process of acquiring additional rights
Question of licences granted
Time lines for convergence
Questions
Tuesday 2 October: Focus: Broadcasting: class and individual
9am – 10am: AME
10am – 11am: Caxton
Tea
11.15am – 12.15pm: NAB
12.15pm – 1.15pm: MDDA
Lunch
2.20pm – 3.30pm: Telkom Media
Wednesday 3 October: Focus: Broadcasting: class and individual
9am – 10am: Multichoice/M-Net
10am – 11am: SABC
Tea
11.15am – 12.15pm: e.tv
12.15pm – 1.15pm: Walking on Water
Thursday 4 October: Focus: ECS: class and individual
9am – 10am: DBI
10am – 11am: GTS
Tea
11.15am – 12.15pm: Virgin Mobile
12.15pm – 1.15pm: TelFree
Lunch
2.20pm – 3.30pm: Smile
3.30pm – 4.30pm: Altech Autopage
Friday day 5 October: Focus: ECS: class and individual
9am – 10am: Fleetcall
10am – 11am: ISPA
Tea
11.15am – 12.15pm: WBS
12.15pm – 1.15pm: MWeb
Lunch
2.20pm – 3.30pm: Internet Solution
Monday 8 October: Focus: ECNS: class and individual
9am – 10am: Orbicom
10am – 11am: Sentech
Tea
11.15am – 12.15pm: Eskom
12.15pm – 1.15pm: Transnet
Lunch
2.20pm – 3.30pm: Vodacom
Tuesday 9 October: Focus ECNS: class and individual
9am – 10am: Cell C
10am – 11am: MTN
Tea
11.15am – 12.15pm: Neotel
12.15pm – 1.15pm: Telkom
Wednesday 10 October: Licence Fees Workshop
9am-4pm
Workshop issues with interested stakeholders.
Thursday 11 October: Licence Exempt Category
9am – 1pm
Discussions with all interested stakeholders.
On the day that ICASA concludes the Licence conversion public hearings on 11 October 2007 at 1pm, Interconnection and Facilities Leasing public hearings will commence in earnest at 2pm on the afternoon thereof. A media release with time-frames will be issued.
The slight overlap between the conclusion of the Licence Conversion public hearings and the commencement of the Interconnection and Facilities Leasing hearing stems from the urgency on the part of ICASA to finalise EC Act regulations by July 2007.
