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The Convergence Bill: Ensuring Affordable and Accessible Internet in South Africa

The Convergence Bill aims to make the internet affordable and accessible to all in South Africa. Key additions include competition regulation, ICASA empowerment, interconnection regulation, and consumer codes of conduct. However, concerns arise over accurate definitions, licensing of providers, public participation, and the need for a holistic legislative approach. Public input is vital to ensure effective regulations benefit from private sector expertise. The high cost of entry barriers remains a significant challenge, raising questions about who wants and needs internet access, and what obstacles prevent it. Is it too late to address these issues?

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The Convergence Bill: Ensuring Affordable and Accessible Internet in South Africa

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  1. The Convergence Bill Internet Society slogan: The Internet is for Everyone (who wants it) Internet Society of South Africa

  2. The Convergence Bill In order for the Internet to be for everyone, in South Africa It must be affordable and accessible Internet Society of South Africa

  3. The Convergence Bill Welcome additions to the Bill Regulation of competition Increased power of ICASA Regulation of interconnection Repeal of existing legislation Consumer codes of conduct Internet Society of South Africa

  4. The Convergence Bill Concerns Definitions Definitions are the lifeblood of the Bill and need to be accurate Internet Society of South Africa

  5. The Convergence Bill Concerns Licencing of application and content providers ISOC-ZA opposes any attempt to licence application and content providers and sees the possibility of any licences being imposed as counter-productive, unenforceable and economically unwise Internet Society of South Africa

  6. The Convergence Bill Concerns Public participation As the Bill is by design an enabling piece of legistion the real effect of the legislation will be seen when the regulations are put into force Thus the need for public participation in the drafting of regulations is vital in order to ensure that regulations are able to benefit from the considerable expertise in the private sector Internet Society of South Africa

  7. The Convergence Bill Concerns Holistic approach to legislation Convergence Bill should be accompanied by the ICASA Amendment Bill as well as draft regulations in terms of the Convergence Bill Internet Society of South Africa

  8. The Convergence Bill Internet Society slogan: The Internet is for Everyone (who wants it) Internet Society of South Africa

  9. The Convergence Bill For key consideration: Who wants it? Who needs it? What stops it? Very High input costs! Higher than others by many orders of magnitude. Internet Society of South Africa

  10. The Convergence Bill Is it too late? Internet Society of South Africa

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