The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) will hold public hearings on the revised draft Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) regulations.
This would be the final round of public consultation on the matter, Icasa said on Wednesday.
The hearings are part of a process which would result in South Africa switching from an analogue to a digital broadcast signal.
The deadline for the switch is June 2015. The move to DTT would require television viewers to purchase a set-top box (STB) to interpret the digital signal.
This would enable the broadcaster to bring more television channels to the viewers.
Icasa said there were two main changes to the regulations on which it would particularly like to hear the views of the public.
The first was the proposal to use the second Mobile DTT multiplex as a third DTT multiplex during the dual illumination period to accommodate new entrants, stimulate the uptake of DTT services, foster content and enhance consumer choice.
This was in response to the Amended Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy of 17 February 2012 in which the minister of communications directed Icasa to explore how best to introduce new services and licenses.
Icasa proposed the formation of a Digital Television Content Advisory Group to advise on the most effective ways to ensure the supply of digital television content, to encourage consumers to acquire set-top boxes.
The organisation received 20 submissions from interested parties on the Draft DTT Regulations, 17 of which had indicated their willingness to make oral representations.
The public hearings would be held from August 21 to 23 at the Icasa offices in Sandton from 8.30am.
In May, Communications Minister Dina Pule told parliament that the switch to digital television broadcasting was on track.
She said “substantial progress” had been made during the past financial year towards implementation of the broadcasting digital migration policy.
Pule said there was enough capacity to manufacture STBs locally.
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