Pule proposes government committee to oversee broadband process

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Dina Pule has proposed the establishment of a broadband inter governmental implementation committee to oversee the broadband process.

This is contained in the Electronic Communications Amendment Bill, which was published this month for public comment.

SA has a low level of broad- band penetration, hence the plans to ensure that every citizen has access to broadband-high speed internet network.

The Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission, chaired by President Jacob Zuma, had identified broadband as one of 17 strategic infrastructure projects in the country. The government is targeting a 100% broadband penetration by 2020 and is investigating ways for a rapid deployment of the network.

The committee will co-ordinate overall broadband implementation by the government at national, provincial and local government levels, and facilitate the monitoring and measurement of broadband penetration across the country, as well as devise an implementation plan that supports the broadband policy.

The committee would also identify mechanisms to realise the potential benefits of broadband.

It would advise the commu- nications minister and the finance minister on government investment in electronic communications facilities, and networks that contribute to broadband penetration, in all spheres of government, to “avoid unnecessary duplication”, the bill states.

Siyabonga Madyibi, executive for regulatory affairs at Internet Solutions, said: “In our experience, the speed at which the ECA (Electronic Communications Act) could be implemented, as well as the rollout of broadband infrastructure, is hindered by regional bylaws and regulations.

“There are too many restrictions which are obstructive to the objectives which need to be achieved, and these restrictions need to be addressed.

“A committee would act as a bridge between municipal authorities and national departments, the private sector, and the telecoms sector. It would allow us to bring together a greater quality of views and experience, and form a single, cohesive platform,” Mr Madyibi said last week.

Dominic Cull, the legal adviser of the Internet Service Providers Association, said it was clear there were different initiatives taking place at different levels and that there was an urgent need to coordinate all processes. “We welcome this intervention but whether it is what is required (remains to be seen),” he said.

Ms Pule has proposed other amendments to the bill, including the establishment of a spectrum management agency that will manage the radio spectrum frequency, including the assignment of spectrum for government and nongovernment use.

“We feel that the creation of another agency could be counterproductive as frequently all these different agencies work against each other, instead of moving forward,” said Mr Madyibi.