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12 March 2001
Government names digital broadcasting advisors
BY
PHILLIP DE WET
[
12 March 2001
] -
Minister of communications Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri launched the Digital Broadcasting Advisory Body (DBAD) and a production counterpart on the weekend, saying the bodies are to define technical standards and come up with content strategies that will encourage the localisation of broadcast content on the Internet.
The 12-member DBAD is made up of technical and communications experts from industry and academia, while the SA Broadcasting Production Advisory Body consists of producers and broadcasters.
The bodies were established under provisions in the White Paper on Broadcasting Policy and the Broadcasting Act. The department says the bodies' role will be to advise it on high-level policy in the sector, especially on ways to encourage growth, and to give input into other advisory processes such as Thabo Mbeki's presidential taskforces on technology and communications.
The DBAD will be headed up by Alison Gillwald, director of the LINK (Learning, Information and Knowledge) centre of the University of the Witwatersrand. The other members are: Solly Mokoetle of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Deon Conradie of Sentech, Clarissa Mack of MultiChoice, communications consultants Mlamli Booi and Harold Bopalamo, Soraja Milin and Tshepo Rantho of Orbicom, Brian Armstrong of the Counsel for Scientific and Industrial Research, Peter Burnett of the Technikon Natal, Legasa Mogadime of Telkom, and advocate Cawe Mahlati.
Andile Ngcaba, director-general of the Department of Communications, says the body is likely to operate for a period of one year to 18 months before its work is done.
Gillwald, chairman of the DBAD, says she hopes it could help eliminate uncertainty about digital broadcasting in general. “Digital broadcasting in a developing country like SA has a catalytic role to play in strengthening knowledge infrastructure.”
Related stories:
Oracle, HP, Siemens in govt task force
The 12-member DBAD is made up of technical and communications experts from industry and academia, while the SA Broadcasting Production Advisory Body consists of producers and broadcasters.
The bodies were established under provisions in the White Paper on Broadcasting Policy and the Broadcasting Act. The department says the bodies' role will be to advise it on high-level policy in the sector, especially on ways to encourage growth, and to give input into other advisory processes such as Thabo Mbeki's presidential taskforces on technology and communications.
“Government established the two bodies in order to keep in step with global technological developments, and continue to find innovative ways to promote local content in the changing broadcasting and communications environment,” the department said in a statement. The DBAB will “determine the actions government needs to undertake to maintain competitiveness, quality and quantity in the digital environment”.
Matsepe-Casaburri says the ideal is to devise a long-term strategy “to ensure that all South African lives are touched by and benefit from new digital technologies”.
The DBAD will be headed up by Alison Gillwald, director of the LINK (Learning, Information and Knowledge) centre of the University of the Witwatersrand. The other members are: Solly Mokoetle of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Deon Conradie of Sentech, Clarissa Mack of MultiChoice, communications consultants Mlamli Booi and Harold Bopalamo, Soraja Milin and Tshepo Rantho of Orbicom, Brian Armstrong of the Counsel for Scientific and Industrial Research, Peter Burnett of the Technikon Natal, Legasa Mogadime of Telkom, and advocate Cawe Mahlati.
Andile Ngcaba, director-general of the Department of Communications, says the body is likely to operate for a period of one year to 18 months before its work is done.
Gillwald, chairman of the DBAD, says she hopes it could help eliminate uncertainty about digital broadcasting in general. “Digital broadcasting in a developing country like SA has a catalytic role to play in strengthening knowledge infrastructure.”
Related stories:
Oracle, HP, Siemens in govt task force
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