The South African Communist Party (SACP) has welcomed the reassertion of the African National Congress’s Broadcasting Digital Migration (BDM) policy, including encryption.
“The SACP agrees with the basic principles underlying the policy, specifically the strategic aim to strengthen free-to-air, public and community television broadcasting. The SACP campaigned against an amendment pushed in government by former Communications Minister Faith Muthambi effectively undermining the policy,” the SACP clarified in a statement.
In May 2016, the Supreme Court of Appeals found the amendment to be edict, irrational, invalid and set it aside.
The SACP raised its objection when Muthambi appealed.
“Both her amendment and the appeal further delayed South Africa’s analogue to digital terrestrial television migration,” it said.
The SACP states that government must use the BDM process to expand access to new entrants.
“Encryption significantly lowers the financial barriers to entry for new entrants in the pay television sector, while allowing for State revenue generation to recover, over a few years, the cost of the initial stated subsidisation of set-top boxes (STBs).”
The SACP added that government should uplift content producers in poor communities by means of a decisive pursuit of encrypted television broadcasting to host their content through a “pay as you view” system or subscription.
Further, the SACP stated that the inclusion of encryption should give South Africans, including those qualifying for STBs, access to a variety of digital platforms including e-government services.
“Examples include enabling people to receive, in their home language, information about government services, including pensions, social grants and health services.”