Draft Spectrum Assignment Plan & ITA- comments needed urgently (ie 20 hours deadline)

[ellipsis]

ICASA seems to have decided not to extend the deadline, so we'll be drafting this one in a bit of a hurry.
Please post any comments you may have to add to the MyBB response.

You can find the document link on this page: http://www.ellipsis.co.za/draft-spectrum-assignment-plans-for-the-800mhz-and-2-6ghz-bands/

[WireFree]

Please include my comments on the DOC Policy directions in this document as well.

[dominic]

cannot see this not being postponed...ICASA really need to wait until the final policy direction has been published, apply their minds to it and the start their process....delay is not in their hands

[WireFree]

Until ICASA does officially set a new date you might as well submit something.

[SteveO]

Have ICASA indicated when the official ITA will be released?

[UnUnOctium]

Of course, no mention of any provision for future technologies (dynamic spectrum access for one). In true ICASA fashion, it goes to the highest bidder who will make them look good.

[dominic]

Until ICASA does officially set a new date you might as well submit something.

quite a lot of drama about this today :) - ICASA know that their process has to be delayed until the Minister has finalised her policy directions...so i would say we go ahead and make the submission by Monday but be prepared to do it all again...ICASA will accept the "late" submission

[dominic]

why did myBB not make a submission?

it is becoming clear that this is a stuff-up of usual proportions

- ICASA works with previous Minister Padayachie to develop policy directions....everyone is largely on the same page
- these are backgrounded in the change of Minister
- ICASA appears to decide to try and get things going by annoucing they are having a presser re new spectrum plan and ITA
- Minister says woah - i need to do my policy thang first, step aside
- Minister proceeds to publish drafts and sets deadline for comment mid Jan
- ICASA (unwisely) proceeds to publish the draft spectrum assignment plan and ITA sets deadline for comment end Jan
- Minister extends date for submissions to end Jan
- ICASA responds and extends date to end Feb
- Like a homing missile the Ministers further extends to end Feb
- ICASA indicates it will publish an amended schedule for its process but does not
- both deadline therefore fall on the same day

i.e. two processes which are required by law to run consecutively are now running in parallel
i.e. fail

results
- ICASA will need to apply its mind to the finalised policy direction and reissue its drafts for comment
- don't expect a spectrum auction this year

[ellipsis]

Official postponement notice: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/24829246/Postponement%20of%20Spectrum%20Assignment%20Plan%2 0and%20Draft%20ITA%2020110306.pdf

If anyone is interested in reading the submissions that were made, they are available from https://www.icasa.org.za/tabid/263/Default.aspx.