Question NW1987 to the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
17 October 2016 - NW1987
Mackenzie, Mr C to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
(1) Whether the National Broadband Advisory Council, appointed by Cabinet in line with the SA Connect policy, has formally been disbanded; if so, (a) when and (b) why was the specified council disbanded; if not, (2) Have new councillors been appointed to the council in the past three financial years; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the names of the councillors and (b) on what date were the specified appointments approved by Cabinet; (3) Whether the Cabinet’s approval was required for the disbanding of the specified council; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the full relevant details; (4) What (a) is the current role of the council and (b) are the full details of all interactions that have taken place between him and the council in the past three financial years?
Reply:
DATE OF REPLY:
I have been advised by the Department as follows:-
1. The National Broadband Advisory Council (NBAC) was not appointed by Cabinet. As outlined in the SA Connect Policy, Digital Readiness Policy decision taken states that “the Minister of Communications (now DTPS) appoints broadband Council to advise on the implementation of policy and emerging policy issues”. The NBAC has not been disbanded, the Minister has tasked the Department to review and recommend ways to reconfigure the functioning of the Council in an optimal manner to ensure that its role is efficiently realised in advising the Minister on the implementation of SA Connect.
2. No new Council members have been appointed.
3. Cabinet’s approval is not required.
4. (a) As mentioned in (1), currently, the Council does not have a specific role that it is involved in pending the Council review exercise by the Minister. (b) In August 2015, the Minister met with the Council Chairperson to discuss the role and functions of the Council. As a result, the Minister took a decision to review the Council’s functions and roles with the objective of appropriately reconfiguring the Council in order to derive maximum value.