This is the ICT Weekly Update on legal, regulatory and policy developments in the ICT industry prepared by Lisa Thornton Inc for clients and colleagues. Michalsons reproduces it, in part, here with the permission of Lisa Thornton Inc.
Minister of Police
• The Minister published names of members of the Critical Infrastructure Council
• The .za DNA will deliver a technical DNS training course, 15 February 2022 in Johannesburg and 21 February 2022 in Cape Town.
Nigeria
• The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy published the National Policy on Fifth Generation (5G) Networks for Nigeria’s Digital Economy.
Zimbabwe
• Draft Domain Name Registration and Management Regulations.
None
ICASA
• ICASA has invited comments on the draft Implementation of the Radio Frequency Migration Plan and of the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Roadmap, due 11 February 2022.
• ICASA has given notice regarding its intention to conduct an inquiry into the Long-Term Spectrum Outlook, for comment due 4 March 2022.
Parliament
Communications and Digital Technologies
- South African Broadcasting Corporation SOC Ltd Bill, 2021
- National Digital and Cloud Policy
- Postbank SOC LTD Amendment Bill, 2021
- White Paper on Audio and Audiovisual Content Services Policy Framework
- Review of the public broadcasting sector
- Community Broadcasting Support Scheme
ICASA
[Pending decisions about individual licenses are not included in this list]
- Findings re Discussion Document on the Review of the Pro-Competitive Conditions imposed on the Licensees in terms of the Call Termination Regulations
- Amendment to regulations governing the procedures of the Complaints and Compliance Committee
- Update of the National Radio Frequency Plan 2021
- Findings on the Review of Advertising, Infomercials and Programme Sponsorship Regulations
- Mobile Broadband Services Regulations
- New Equipment Authorisation Regulations
- Regulatory impact assessment of the End-user and Subscriber Service Charter Regulations
- Findings on Inquiry into Subscription Television Broadcasting Services
- Second draft update to Annexure A of the Terrestrial Broadcasting Frequency Plan
- Spectrum Assignment Plans for 156.4785-156.5625 MHz band
- VoIP Market Inquiry Findings
- Implementation framework for toll free services
- Regulatory Framework for Wholesale Broadcasting Transmission Services
- Introduction of local loop unbundling
- Radio frequency spectrum fee regulations applicable to broadcasting
- Amended E-rate regulations
- Technical standards for power line communications
- Essential facilities regulations
South African Law Reform Commission
- Findings in Discussion Paper on sexual offences (pornography and children)
- Report and Recommendations on the review of the law of (electronic) evidence
Justice and Constitutional Development
- Amendments to the regulations re the Protection of Personal Information Act
- Prevention and Combating of Hate Crime and Hate Speech Bill
- Ratification of Council of Europe’s Convention on Cyber crime
National Treasury
- Regulations to expand the definition of “electronic services” in VAT Act
.za DNA
- South African Registry Agreement
- Wholesale fee review for co.za, net.za, org.za and web.za
- Amendments to the .za Second Level Domain General Policy and .za Second Level Registrations Policy
- law.za charter
Information Regulator
Competition Commission
- Online Intermediation Platforms Market Inquiry
- Amendment of the Small Merger Guidelines
- Regulations on Non-binding Advisory Opinions
- Amendment to Forms, Rules and Regulations
- Enforcement guidelines for setting out general principles for the enforcement of the new provision of the Competition Act concerning abuse of dominance and price discrimination
- Investigation into Vodacom exclusive contract with the National Treasury
City of Johannesburg
- By-laws re rights of way for electronic communications facilities
Botswana
- Campus Radio Licensing Framework
- Code of Advertising for Broadcasting Spectrum Management
- Digital Terrestrial Television Licensing Framework
- Cost Models/Pricing Framework for ICT Services
Ghana
- Type approval regulations
- Quality of Service Regulations
Kenya
- Programming Code for Broadcasting Services
- Guidelines on Installation and Maintenance of ICT Infrastructure
- Requirements to enhance accessibility to broadcasting services by persons with disabilities
- Regulatory interventions for IoT
- Specifications for mobile devices
- Guidelines for Network Redundancy, Resilience and Diversity
- Minimum technical specifications for cable and satellite TV receivers
- Procedures for the use of foreign numbering resources
- Revised guidelines on prevention of dissemination of undesirable bulk political messages
- Technical Specification for IPTV Set Top Boxes
Lesotho
- Regulations re sim card registrations
- Amendment of Administrative Rules
- Licensing Classification and Fees Rules
Nigeria
- Information Memorandum on 3.5 GHz Spectrum Auction
- Annual Operating Levy Regulations
- Spectrum (Fees and Pricing) Regulations
- MVNO licensing framework
- Data protection legislation
- Internet Code of Practice
- Guidelines on the use of TV White Spaces
Tanzania
- Numbering plan for M2M and IOT applications
Uganda
- Radio Spectrum Management Policy
Zimbabwe
- Domain Name System Framework and .ZW ccTLD Management
- Consultation Paper on the Licensing of PMR 446 Radios
