http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=561&fArticleId=2377905
Icasa in the hot seat today on Vans plan proposals up for criticism
January 19, 2005
By Gugulakhe Masango
Johannesburg - The proposal by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) that there be a 30 percent empowerment obligation on value-added network services (Vans) providers will be a focus of criticism today, and the regulator will be required to finally clarify which services require a Vans licence.
Icasa has failed for almost a year to clarify who needs a Vans licence. As it stands, the suggested new Vans framework could require a company providing e-mail access to its employees to apply for a licence.
The proposed regulations state that a Vans licensee with annual turnover of R1 million and above should disclose an employment strategy outlining how historically disadvantaged individuals will be taken on board
"The suggested empowerment holding is unrealistic for small firms"
.
The Vans market value is estimated to be R3.3 billion, excluding Telkom operations, with a share of more than R4 billion in this sector.
There are more than 200 Vans operators, such as Internet Solutions, UUNet, Tiscali, M-Web, DataPro, Storm and internet service providers (ISPs).
Icasa has to clarify whether a school will need a Vans licence to provide an e-mail service to its students, and also if an internet cafe and a firm providing anti-virus services require a Vans licence.
The ISP Association (Ispa), which represents more than 80 Vans, would argue that "the proposed regulations could apply to tens of thousands of organisations that are not even aware that these regulations exist".
Ant Brooks, the chairman of the Ispa regulatory committee, said the lack of clarity on which services were viewed by the regulator as Vans made a mockery of the process of seeking comment on the suggested regulations.
The Vans operators would argue that the suggested R30 000 application fee was beyond the means of most small businesses operating as Vans.
"The suggested empowerment shareholding is unrealistic for small businesses, some of which are family owned," said Brooks.
Ispa would argue that the proposed Vans regulations discouraged the growth of small businesses, since they "burden them with many additional financial, administrative and logistical requirements".
The SA Communications Forum, which considers Vans licences to be a critical element in bridging the digital divide, would applaud the minimum 30 percent empowerment shareholding.
The Communications Users' Association of SA would contend that it was unreasonable and discriminatory to single out one subsector within the information and communications technology sector to offer a 30 percent empowerment shareholding in their businesses.
Icasa in the hot seat today on Vans plan proposals up for criticism
January 19, 2005
By Gugulakhe Masango
Johannesburg - The proposal by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) that there be a 30 percent empowerment obligation on value-added network services (Vans) providers will be a focus of criticism today, and the regulator will be required to finally clarify which services require a Vans licence.
Icasa has failed for almost a year to clarify who needs a Vans licence. As it stands, the suggested new Vans framework could require a company providing e-mail access to its employees to apply for a licence.
The proposed regulations state that a Vans licensee with annual turnover of R1 million and above should disclose an employment strategy outlining how historically disadvantaged individuals will be taken on board
"The suggested empowerment holding is unrealistic for small firms"
.
The Vans market value is estimated to be R3.3 billion, excluding Telkom operations, with a share of more than R4 billion in this sector.
There are more than 200 Vans operators, such as Internet Solutions, UUNet, Tiscali, M-Web, DataPro, Storm and internet service providers (ISPs).
Icasa has to clarify whether a school will need a Vans licence to provide an e-mail service to its students, and also if an internet cafe and a firm providing anti-virus services require a Vans licence.
The ISP Association (Ispa), which represents more than 80 Vans, would argue that "the proposed regulations could apply to tens of thousands of organisations that are not even aware that these regulations exist".
Ant Brooks, the chairman of the Ispa regulatory committee, said the lack of clarity on which services were viewed by the regulator as Vans made a mockery of the process of seeking comment on the suggested regulations.
The Vans operators would argue that the suggested R30 000 application fee was beyond the means of most small businesses operating as Vans.
"The suggested empowerment shareholding is unrealistic for small businesses, some of which are family owned," said Brooks.
Ispa would argue that the proposed Vans regulations discouraged the growth of small businesses, since they "burden them with many additional financial, administrative and logistical requirements".
The SA Communications Forum, which considers Vans licences to be a critical element in bridging the digital divide, would applaud the minimum 30 percent empowerment shareholding.
The Communications Users' Association of SA would contend that it was unreasonable and discriminatory to single out one subsector within the information and communications technology sector to offer a 30 percent empowerment shareholding in their businesses.