ICASA's funding

[Debbie]

Does anyone know if the licence fees paid by telecoms players (i.e. Telkom, MTN, VANS etc) go to ICASA or to the national treasury?

And why the hell do taxpayers have to pay for Telkom to be regulated? Like wtf?

I understand that they don't just regulate Telkom, but Telkom is the major reason for the existence of the telecoms part of ICASA, and of course Telkom makes billions and billions, yet the taxpayer has to fund an inefficient regulator, and we just sit back and allow this to happen.

Any links to newspaper articles about these issues would be appreciated.

 

[Gunny]

so even tho i dnt have a tel line anymore telkom still causes me to spend money on them indirectly through tax ?

Debbie stop depressing me lol

 

[Debbie]

so even tho i dont have a tel line anymore telkom still causes me to spend money on them indirectly through tax ?

Exactly what I am saying.

I am currently reading about telecoms regulation around the world, and according to this seemingly authorative piece, it is rather unusual for a regulator to be primarily funded through parliamentary appropriation, which is the case in SA.

Basically, whether you are a Telkom customer or not, you are paying for ICASA to keep Telkom in line - something that ICASA is not doing.

 

[dominic]

afaik licence fees go to the national revenue fund and fall under the control of the fiscus

ICASA's budget bears no relation to licence fees

 

[mancombseepgood]

Uh...

I understand that they don't just regulate Telkom

Should read...
I understand that they don't regulate Telkom.

 

[chiskop]

Basically, whether you are a Telkom customer or not, you are paying for ICASA to keep Telkom in line - something that ICASA is not doing.

I'd like a refund, please. Who do I need to speak to?

 

[lilDeath]

well, well, it just gets better and better, doesnt it...
/doh