TMCnet News

Criteria set for subsidised decoders [ITWeb]
[October 30, 2014]

Criteria set for subsidised decoders [ITWeb]


(ITWeb Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) DA member of Parliament Marian Shinn is concerned about the lack of progress around digital TV.

The Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa has finally put out the criteria under which South Africans can qualify for subsidised set-top boxes, the Democratic Alliance says.

The official opposition says this publication is a month later, but is to be welcomed as a step forward in digital migration, which has been mired by endless delays, including an apparent turf war between two different departments over whether it is the domain of the Department of Communications or the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services.



In a statement issued by Marian Shinn, shadow telecommunications and postal services minister, she says the "deadline for South Africa to switch from analogue to digital television broadcasting is seven months away and it is common cause that it will be impossible for South Africa to meet that". The International Telecommunications Union has set mid-2015 as the time when it will cease to protect analogue broadcast.

Shinn notes the revised Digital Migration Policy, that was ready to go to Cabinet before the May election, has yet to be published. This policy will pave the way for the tender for subsidised boxes to be issued, which will then allow SA to turn digital TV on.


"The release this week by the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) of the Qualifying Criteria for the Set-Top-Box Scheme of Ownership and Support is the first indication that the process of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is again getting into first gear." Deadline for comments on the criteria is 26 November.

Shinn explains the subsidies proposed for terrestrial set-top boxes range from 66% for no-income households to 15% for those earning up to R2 499 a month. In areas needing satellite transmission the subsidy ranges from 77% for no-or-low income households to 29% for those with an income up to R3 200 a month.

Subsidies will apply only to valid TV licence holders, including concessionary TV licence holders; proof of ownership of an operational TV set, South African citizens and proof of household income or dependency on social grants, Shinn adds.

While welcoming the publication of the criteria, Shinn is concerned that the update on the progress with the publication of the revised policy, set for 21 November, has "dropped off the programme for the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee".

(c) 2014 ITWeb Limited. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]