The qualifying criteria issued by the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) requires that for poor TV owning households to qualify for free set-top-boxes they must have a valid TV license. However, a TV license is not compulsory to purchase a STB. The license requirement is proving to be an obstacle in the registration of the qualifying TV households and ultimately on the distribution of set-top-boxes. Therefore, Department of Communications (DoC) sought to address this as a matter of urgency.
Resultantly, a decision was made, together with the SABC management, to delink TV license requirement from the Set-Top-Box registration process. It is my considered view that by delinking the TV license requirement, registration of the qualifying TV households and ultimately on the distribution of set-top-boxes will enable the indigent households in the SKA area to benefit from the government subsidy.
MR NN MUNZHELELE
DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE:
MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE: