Description
The Community Broadcasting Licence serves the broadcasting needs of
a community for a maximum of four years. It is renewable, on
condition that you apply for the renewal of the licence not earlier
than six months and not later than three months before the expiry
date of the existing licence. It is renewable only on condition
that the licensee has complied with the conditions set out by the
licensing authority. The licence is awarded to communities who
establish themselves as a Section 21 company, Trust, voluntary
association or any other legally recognised non-profit making
entity. The objectives of the four-year Community Broadcasting
Licence are to achieve the following:
- promote the right to communicate and freedom of expression
- allow for diversity in the broadcasting industry
- actively involve the community as producers, managers and
audience in the practice of communication
- be the voice of communities
- provide programming that reflects the special interests and
needs of the community, which include cultural, language, religious
and demographic needs.
A four-year Community Broadcasting Licence may be granted in the
following categories:
- Sound broadcasting service
- Television broadcasting service.
The licence is valid for four years.
The Department of Communications supports four-year licensees with
broadcast and production equipment, provided they meet the
requirements of the Department.
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Steps to follow
ICASA will issue an invitation to apply for a community sound
broadcasting service and allocate available frequencies to
different areas. As the applicant for a licence, you should do the
following:
- Establish a working group to take responsibility for the
application process and serve as applicant on behalf of the
community.
- Ensure that the working group does the following:
-
- collect signatures from the community
- write a business plan
- facilitate a democratic election of Board member
- determine the location of the studio and transmission
site.
- Request a broadcasting service and signal distribution
application form.
- Complete the application form in print, using capital
letters.
- Submit the original application form and 16 certified copies
to ICASA with application fee.
Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant and no
responsibility for any inconvenience will be accepted.
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Legal framework
(Documents are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to
have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on
your computer.)
Electronic
Communications Act, 2005 (Act 36 of 2005)
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Service standard
It
may take 3 to 4 months.
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Cost
- R3 000 (non-refundable application fee).
- R250 for the issuing of licence after it has been
awarded.
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Forms to complete
Application form will be part of the Government Gazette
schedules.
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Contact details |