Members of parliament questioned the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) heavily on the status of its suspended CEO Jackie Manche and CFO Bridget Mhlala, a R20 million plan to upgrade its offices and its plan to license a further 14 under-serviced area licensees (USALs) this year.
ICASA was presenting its budget before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications as part of the medium-term expenditure framework this morning. Among the information ICASA supplied was that licensing revenues had increased by almost 100% from R495 million in 2000, to R988 million in 2005.
"This information shows the increasing licence revenue trends valid until 31 January 2006," said Eric Nhlapo, acting ICASA CEO.
ICASA also presented its programme of action for this year. This includes a revision of licensing policies and the issuing of regulations in accordance with the Electronic Communications Bill; the planning of digital broadcasting bands; and performing a terrestrial interference survey for the Square Kilometre Array bid, a proposed international radio telescope project.
ICASA expressed support for regulations which put in place processes to implement policies and projects, and for the Electronic Communications Bill and the ICASA Amendment Bill, which will ensure certainty of the regulatory framework.
ICASA is due to answer questions posed to it later this morning. Sentech will present its budget proposals later today.
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