Description
The Broadcasting Act of 1999 defines a Low Power Sound Broadcasting
Service as a community, private or public sound broadcasting
service that radiates power not exceeding one watt. The objectives
of a Low Power Sound Broadcasting Licence are to achieve the
following:
-
to expand the concept of ‘access’ from the right to receive
information to include greater access to the means of production in
broadcasting
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the right to freedom of the press and other media, freedom to
receive and impart information and ideas, freedom of artistic
creativity; and academic freedom and freedom of scientific
research
-
from the development perspective, the notion of equality is
important in levelling the playing fields in the broadcasting
industry by encouraging new entrants into the market.
A Low Power Sound Broadcasting Licence may be granted in the
following categories:
-
Commercial low power sound broadcasting services – services
operating from and broadcasting to shopping malls/centres, sports
grounds, show grounds and drive-in movie theatres, or any other
like service the Authority may deem appropriate.
-
Community low power sound broadcasting services – services
operating from and broadcasting to old age homes, links between
places of worship, links between places of worship and old age
homes, or any other like service the Authority may deem
appropriate.
Both community and commercial low power sound broadcasting licences
shall be valid for three years, and a special event low power sound
broadcasting licence shall be valid for thirty days.
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Steps to follow
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Identify a suitable frequency for low power use.
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Determine the location of the studio and transmission site.
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Establish a working group to take responsibility for the
application process and serve as applicant on behalf of the event
organisers.
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Ensure that the working group does the following:
-
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Collect signatures from the community
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Write a business plan
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Facilitate a democratic election of Board members
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Request a copy of the broadcasting service and signal distribution
application form.
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Complete the application form in print, using capital letters.
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Submit the original and 16 certified copies of the application form
to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
(ICASA), together with the 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.)
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Service standard
Approval of this licence may take 2 to 3 months.
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Cost
-
Commercial licence: R5 000
- Non-refundable fee of R500 upon issuing of the licence
-
Commercial Special Event licence: R2 000
-
Community licence: R 1 500
- Non-refundable fee of R200 upon the issuing of the licence
-
Community Special event licence : R500
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Forms to complete
The application form will be part of the Government Gazette
schedules.
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Contact details |