ICASA Concludes the Initial Evaluation for the Radio Frequency Spectrum Licenses

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has concluded its initial evaluation of applications to pre-register for Community Television Broadcasting Service and Radio Frequency Spectrum licences for the provision of community television broadcasting services on Multiplex 1 frequencies.

A total of 20 applications have met all the prequalification criteria, and now proceed to the next phase 1 of the evaluation and licensing process.

The Authority had initially received 37 applications in response to the Invitation to Pre-register (“ITP-R”), which was issued on 30 June 2022. However, 17 applications were disqualified from the ITP-R licencing process due to failure to meet the pre-qualification criteria.

Community broadcasting plays an essential role in South Africa as a source of information, in promoting social cohesion, fostering diversity and uplifting communities; therefore, this step is such a significant milestone that will also deal with some of the challenges that have plagued the community broadcasting sector.

Adv. Mkumatela, Chairperson of the Council Committee, ICASA Councillor

The Authority now invites stakeholders and interested parties to submit written representations with respect to the 20 successful applications that are admitted to Phase 1 of the ITP-R licensing process. Such representations must be submitted to the Authority within fourteen working days from the date of publication of the Notice (30 March 2023).

The representations are intended to, among other things, ascertain whether there are any objections to the applications in any particular municipality; this will also help and empower ICASA to ensure that it licences organisations that will effectively serve as tools for empowerment in their respective communities.

Adv. Mkumatela, Chairperson of the Council Committee, ICASA Councillor