Anyone read the draft convergence bill? [Archive]

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reech

23-01-2004, 11:19 AM

...I haven't but here are some reports about it.....
http://allafrica.com/stories/200401140505.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/200401160095.html
http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?o=40945&sa=19
....very scary stuff basically they wanna licence just about anything that moves electronically or over the radio spectrum.
-- does anyone have a url for the draft bill??

--- better get that website licence sharpish, rpm!!

grubman

23-01-2004, 10:58 PM

The draft bill can be found at:

http://www.internet.org.za/convergence.html

rpm

24-01-2004, 10:06 AM

Hi Reech

Thanks for the links and advice. I have been following some of the articles in the newspapers regarding content publishing on the web, but there does not seem to be a great deal of clarity surrounding the issue. I will however make certain that MyADSL is within the law regarding these matters.

Regards,

RPM
rpm@myadsl.co.za

antowan

24-01-2004, 10:36 AM

Why doesn't the draft bill have a paragraph 33.2?????[:0]

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by grubman
 The draft bill can be found at:

http://www.internet.org.za/convergence.html
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

He who does not understand the value of war at the right time, cannot comprehend the value of life at any time - Anonymous

reech

24-01-2004, 11:55 AM

rpm- I was merely jesting... cynically

thank you for the url

ASnogarD

24-01-2004, 11:05 PM

One comment...why oh why can they never post rules we must follow in plain understandable english...why do we need to hire a lawyer to translate laws we as individuals must adhere to ..especially when the term ignorance is not an escuse is applicable.

Karnaugh

24-01-2004, 11:54 PM

yes I've been following the convergence bill on IOZ, I'm not sure of it's impact though, unfortunatly wasn't able to attend the meeting about it.

<hr noshade size="1">
"Since light travels faster than sound, people appear bright until you hear them speak."

NetLink Research

reech

25-01-2004, 02:01 PM

Nobody seems to know for sure what it's impact will be, it seems pretty long (and vague) on ICASA's remit and pretty short on any specifics ie provision for unlicensed rf spectrum for 802.11 type networking (yes, across streets and boundaries)

antowan

25-01-2004, 10:51 PM

Check this out. Remember that SA is very good buddies with Cuba...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3425425.stm [:D]

Cuban government to its people: "You shall not see what we don't want you to see!"

South Africa's government: "We agree! Lets make technology so costly that nobody can afford to communicate anything, let alone anti-government comunications..."

USA government: "Yes, we will even supply you stupid ass governments with tools to track down people who dare to communicate with our new and improved technology. We aim for space, why would you people down in the good ol' Africa need to use high technology anyway?"

[xx(]

Regards
Antowan

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by reech
 ...I haven't but here are some reports about it.....
http://allafrica.com/stories/200401140505.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/200401160095.html
http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?o=40945&sa=19
....very scary stuff basically they wanna licence just about anything that moves electronically or over the radio spectrum.
-- does anyone have a url for the draft bill??

--- better get that website licence sharpish, rpm!!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

He who does not understand the value of war at the right time, cannot comprehend the value of life at any time - Anonymous

Karnaugh

26-01-2004, 12:34 AM

Not sure what that has to do with the convergence bill?

<hr noshade size="1">
"Since light travels faster than sound, people appear bright until you hear them speak."

NetLink Research

antowan

26-01-2004, 07:52 AM

The point is that South Africa considers Cuba a brother country. We share experiences and ideologies with them. Our government has the same socialist undecurrent as the Cuban government.

What I am saying is that we should be aware of what is going on around us and prevent our government from strangling our fledgeling Internet community before it gets a chance to make a drastic difference to this country.

Cheers
A

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Karnaugh
 Not sure what that has to do with the convergence bill?

<hr noshade size="1">
"Since light travels faster than sound, people appear bright until you hear them speak."

NetLink Research
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

He who does not understand the value of war at the right time, cannot comprehend the value of life at any time - Anonymous

microfast

26-01-2004, 09:34 AM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by antowan
What I am saying is that we should be aware of what is going on around us and prevent our government from strangling our fledgeling Internet community before it gets a chance to make a drastic difference to this country.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I read the draft - mostly the Objects of Act

(2) promote the universal provision of communication services and connectivity for all;
(3) encourage investment and innovation in the communications sector;
(4) ensure efficient, equitable and proper use of the frequency spectrum;
(5) promote competition within the communication sector;
(6) promote an environment of open, fair and equal access;
(7) promote the empowerment of historically disadvantaged persons;
(8) safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of South Africa;
(9) promote the growth and diversity of content services and access thereto;
(10) ensure security and privacy of content;
(11) encourage research and development;
(12) stimulate and promote the provision of broadband services;

Could somebody please tell me where in the Act these objectives are addressed.

The Act is all about licensing and registering and recording - setting up the rules for greater control and new jobs for buddies.

At the end of the day this Act will not improve anything at all.

Who paid for this drivel ??

Drewskie

28-01-2004, 10:13 PM

I have contacted my web hosting company and they informed me that the bill was only a draft.

It has been sent back as it is very vague. The intention of the bill was listed above, so for them to impose licinces will not achive these goals.

We will all wait with baited breath, but the understanding I was given was that the bill was aimed at news sites and not perssonal or buisness web sites.

Unfortunatly the media has jump on the license issue and blow it out of propotion.

The next few weeks will let us know the outcome.

reech

29-01-2004, 04:40 PM

It might only be aimed at news sites --- but exactly what constitues a news site?

besides the very thought of having to obtain a licence to run *any* website is totally contrary to the spirit of the web and smacks of state paranoia / media control --- the web was about free movement of ideas and information.

Perdition

29-01-2004, 07:28 PM

I agree. All that would result from this is the local news sites simply moving their hosting off shore which would hit the local economy. It may not be a huge amount but driving any revenue out of the local economy is not a smart move.

MaD

29-01-2004, 07:59 PM

It seems they want to empower previously disadvantaged people which i think is bloody brilliant, it's about time. Govt would be well advised to set up computer centres in poor areas as well and help people become computer literate and thereby enabling them to access information and have the skills required to get a job, even if the min requirement for a new job is pc literacy.

They should make local broadband free or very cheap so everyone can have access, and customers just pay for the line charge, overseas can be an extra for a couple hundred not more. Would be nice as well if Govt wiped out import charges on pc products, more people can afford pc's then as well. EG i'm not paying R6,600 for a 5900XT, cos half that is import charges.

Let's hold fumbs this achieves what it should, sounds like they're going in the right direction, especially where competition in the comms sector is concerned.

________________________________________________
Just imagine where SA would be now if it weren't for Telkom

antowan

30-01-2004, 08:10 AM

If I am not mistaken they have already lifted import charges on electronic imports.

[:D]

Cheers

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MaD
 It seems they want to empower previously disadvantaged people which i think is bloody brilliant, it's about time. Govt would be well advised to set up computer centres in poor areas as well and help people become computer literate and thereby enabling them to access information and have the skills required to get a job, even if the min requirement for a new job is pc literacy.

They should make local broadband free or very cheap so everyone can have access, and customers just pay for the line charge, overseas can be an extra for a couple hundred not more. Would be nice as well if Govt wiped out import charges on pc products, more people can afford pc's then as well. EG i'm not paying R6,600 for a 5900XT, cos half that is import charges.

Let's hold fumbs this achieves what it should, sounds like they're going in the right direction, especially where competition in the comms sector is concerned.

________________________________________________
Just imagine where SA would be now if it weren't for Telkom
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

He who does not understand the value of war at the right time, cannot comprehend the value of life at any time - Anonymous

reech

30-01-2004, 10:56 AM

Telkom would do well to start by providing realistically priced /susidised adsl to educational institutions and students

MaD

30-01-2004, 08:59 PM

I was chatting with a professor at Peninsula Technikon here in ct a couple months ago and he said that one of their biggest expenses is bandwidth which is now provided by Telkom, previously they had a satellite setup but for some reason they changed to Telkom. They must have at least a 2Mbps line, which i know for a fact is R196,000 for the line rental from TK, excluding ISP and any other costs. They receive no discount or government subsidies, and TK will never charge less because every student there has an e-mail addy and can surf the web and check their mail (albeit the fact that they have limited credits each month with which to do it).. Certainly not the States eh..!

________________________________________________
Just imagine where SA would be now if it weren't for Telkom