[14 August 2020] ICASA reminds interested communities to respond to the Invitation To Apply (ITA) for pre-registration in respect of applications for Digital Community Television Broadcasting Service Licences and applications for Radio Frequency Spectrum on Multiplex 1 (Mux 1).
There will be two phases to the process:
- Phase 1: Consideration of the applications for pre-registration of Community Television Broadcasting Service licence and DTT Multiplex 1 frequencies; and
- Phase 2: Consideration for registration of the community Television Broadcasting Service licence.
The closing date for submissions is 11h00, 4 November 2020, and further details of the process can be found in Schedule A, below:
Invitation to pre-register for Digital Community Television Broadcasting Service and Radio Frequency Spectrum Licences on Multiplex 1 (MUX 1) Frequencies
Schedule A: Application Guidelines
Schedule B: Evaluation Criteria
Schedule C: Requests for Confidentiality
Schedule D: Amendments to the Application
Schedule E: Request for supplementary information
Schedule F: Disqualification Criteria
Schedule G: Proposed Licence Terms and Conditions for RFS Licence
Schedule H: Form B (Registration for Class Licence to provide a Community Broadcasting Service)
Schedule I: Application procedure for RFS Licence for Mux 1 frequencies
Schedule J: DTS frequency Network 2013
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[13 November 2019] ICASA has issued an invitation to pre-register for community sound broadcasting service and radio frequency spectrum licences.
The process will have two phases:
- Phase 1: Consideration of the applications for pre-registration of a Community Sound Broadcasting Service licence in line with the provisions of the Community Service Broadcasting Regulations. This process will be concluded within 90 working days of the closing date for receipt of the applications. The Authority may hold public hearings in respect of received applications during this phase; and
- Phase 2: registration of a Community Sound Broadcasting Service licence to be submitted 30 days after the decision on pre-registration. The registration phase will be completed within 30 working days of receipt of the application.
The closing date for submissions is 11h00, 31 March 2020, and further details of the process can be found in Schedule A, below.
Invitation to pre-register for Community Sound Broadcasting Service and Radio Frequency Spectrum Licences
Schedule A: Application Guidelines
Schedule B: Evaluation Criteria
Schedule C: Amendments to Application
Annexure A: Form B – Registration for a Class Licensee to Provide a Community Broadcasting Service
Annexure B: Form P – Broadcasting Spectrum Licence Application
Annexure C: Spare Community Broadcasting FM Frequencies
Annexure D: Confidentiality Request
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[4 November 2019] ICASA has approved the publication of an Invitation To Apply (ITA) in respect of applications for Class Community Sound Broadcasting Service Licences and applications for Radio Frequency Spectrum for purposes of providing community sound broadcasting services.
The next step will be an invitation for prospective applicants to submit a pre-registration notice and list of available frequencies in each district and local municipality as per the Terrestrial Broadcasting Frequency Plan 2013, within 7 working days of the the media release (1 November 2019).
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[30 July 2019] ICASA has lifted the moratorium in respect of applications for Class Community Sound Broadcasting Service Licences and applications for Radio Frequency Spectrum for purposes of providing a community broadcasting service.
ICASA will publish an invitation for prospective applicants to submit a pre-registration notice and list of available frequencies in each district and local municipality as per the Terrestrial Broadcasting Frequency Plan 2013, within three months of the publication of this notice (26 July 2019).
Prospective applicants are therefore encouraged to familiarise themselves with the new Community Broadcasting Services Regulations, Process and Procedure Regulations as well as the Standard Terms and Conditions for Class Licences as they provide a guide for the application process.
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[1 April 2019] ICASA has published the final Community Broadcasting Regulations following country-wide consultation and engagement with all relevant stakeholders. The regulations and ICASA’s media statement can be found at the following links:
Community Broadcasting Services Regulations 2019
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[3 July 2018] ICASA will be holding public hearings to provide an opportunity for those interested parties who submitted written submissions on the Draft Regulations for Community Broadcasting Services to make oral presentations. The hearings will take place on 23 July 2018 at ICASA’s head office, details for which can be found at the following link:
Notice of Public Hearings: Regulatory Framework for Community Broadcasting Services
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[16 May 2018] ICASA will be conducting public workshops across nine provinces from 15 May 2018 to 6 June 2018 in respect of the review of the community broadcasting framework. All interested stakeholders, including civic organisations and the public at large are invited to participate in the workshops and provide written submissions on the draft regulations.
The submission date has been extended to align with the provincial workshops and interested parties can submit written representations by 16h00, 15 June 2018 for the attention of Mamedupe Kgatshe, per email mkgatshe@icasa.org.za; CC: shill@icasa.org.za. Enquires can be directed to 011 566 3259 between 10h00 and 16h00, Monday to Friday.
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[19 April 2018] ICASA provided an update on the status of the moratorium on the issuing of class community sound broadcasting service licences in Parliament on 18 April 2019. The relevant portion of the presentation is reproduced below.
On 22 September 2015, the Authority issued a moratorium in respect of applications for class community sound broadcasting service licences and for associated radio frequency spectrum licences. The moratorium was necessitated by:
- A scarcity of analogue radio frequencies;
- The review of the Licensing Processes and Procedures Regulations to include a requirement for the Authority to process registrations for class community broadcasting licences in two intervals per year; and
- The need to develop a new regulatory framework to facilitate a sustainable community broadcasting sector.
The Authority has made progress towards the lifting of the moratorium:
- The review of the Licensing Processes and Procedures Regulations was concluded in March 2016. The Regulations require that the Authority process registrations for class community broadcasting licences on a biannual basis
- The review of the regulatory framework for community broadcasting services licences commenced during the 2016/17FY In March 2018, the Authority published Draft Regulations for Community Broadcasting Services (Radio and Television). This document is presently out for public comment. The final regulations will be issued in the current 2018-19FY
The moratorium will be reviewed upon the finalisation of the aforementioned process.
As noted by ICASA, it has published a Findings Document as well as draft regulations for public comment.
Interested parties are invited to submit written representations by 16h00, 18 May 2018 for the attention of Mamedupe Kgatshe, per email mkgatshe@icasa.org.za; CC: shill@icasa.org.za. Enquires can be directed to 011 566 3259 between 10h00 and 16h00, Monday to Friday.
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[7 October 2015] We are receiving a lot of queries with regard to community broadcasting licences. Unfortunately the moratorium on the issuing of these licences announced by ICASA on 22 September 2015 is still in place.
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[13 July 2015] The Minister of Communications has published a Draft Community Broadcasting Support Scheme for public comment.
Draft Community Broadcasting Support Scheme
Comments can be emailed to Collin Dimakatso Mashile at cbssa@doc.gov.za by no later than 16h00 on Tuesday, 1 September 2015.