The digital migration working group will await the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) meeting scheduled for around mid-2006, before establishing a timeline for SA`s switchover from analogue to digital TV.
The group, responsible for the development of SA`s strategy and timelines for the digital switchover, still expects to finalise and submit its recommendations to communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri by the end of the financial year in March, without including a recommended date for the switchover.
"The question of when the switchover is expected will be answered after the ITU meeting scheduled around June," says Department of Communications acting chief director Albi Modise.
The working group met last week to review the progress of its policy, content, economic and technical working sub-groups.
"The meeting noted the progress in the work of the different groups," says Modise.
He says from today until Friday the technical sub-committee will attend a Southern African Development Community (SADC) workshop in Sandton, to prepare for the mid-year ITU meeting.
"There is constant interaction between the technical sub-committee with the SADC region on this issue and the working group is also participating in the ITU process on digital migration.
"The chairpersons of the sub-groups indicated in the last plenary that it is still possible to submit a report to the minister by the end of this financial year. The minister and the department will thereafter determine the way forward."
Sub-group mandates
The working group`s sub-groups and mandates are as follows:
Technical standards and spectrum issues working committee
* Develop an international frequency plan for terrestrial digital broadcasting.
Public policy working committee
* Determine public policy objectives of transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
* Examine public interest issues in broadcasting against backdrop of transition to digital and determine impact.
* Recommendations on policy approach to new services, digital broadcasting on non-traditional networks and ICT activities within the traditional broadcasting spectrum.
* Identify approaches to the role of public broadcasting in the new digital environment.
* Investigate the impact of transition on existing broadcasting services.
* Examine the existing policy environment and licensing regime against broadcasting policy and licensing requirements in a digital environment.
* Role of the regulator in implementing digital broadcasting.
* Examine ownership, control and cross-media ownership in digital broadcasting.
* Make recommendations on implementation and roll-out of transition to digital transmission networks and broadcasting in SA.
Economics and consumer issues working committee
* Encourage growth.
* Encourage investment.
* Development of SMEs.
* Increase employment.
* Promote BEE.
Content and culture working committee
* To consider production strategies for a digital domain and to assess the capacity of broadcasters and independent producers.
* To consider how, in the digital environment, South African languages and cultural diversity should be promoted.
* To investigate appropriate strategies to ensure the promotion of South African content in a digital environment.
* To consider copyright and intellectual property issues in the digital environment.
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