Consumers to get more power in ICASA structures
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has issued a notice of its intention to make regulations for the establishment of a Consumer Advisory Panel. The purpose of the Consumer Advisory Panel regulations is to provide a framework for the establishment of the Panel, prescribe its constitution and develop terms of reference for it.
In the Consumer Advisory Panel Draft Regulations, ICASA states that fundamental changes are taking place in the electronic communications sector, especially the arrangements and nature of regulations and consumer involvement.
“These new developments saw regulators, policymakers and service providers, in recognition, responding and trying to ensure that there is a better system for consumer involvement, protection and representation in the communications industry rather than relying on complaints figures, establishing consumer representative panels, by legislation, as specialized panels or committees of regulatory agencies to ensure consumers’ interests are properly represented.”
The Consumer Advisory Panel will, among other things, provide guidance and advice to ICASA about consumer issues in the telecoms space, assess how ICASA’s activities impact on consumers, make recommendations on consumer concerns, advise on consumer interests and promote the interests of consumers.
There is an increasing focus on consumer issues from ICASA. The new ECA has provided the Regulator with the mandate to set up bodies like the Consumer Complaints Commission and the proposed Consumer Advisory Panel. These are only two examples of official structures ICASA has set up to address consumer issues within their official framework but it is thanks to a more solid legislative foundation that they are now able to delve deeper into this specific area.
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