Amendment of Chapter 1 of the Telecommunications Act.

What follows, because of its length, will be abbreviated but the full version is available for perusal.

This is an extract from a communiqué issued by Dr. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri.  She is the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting and has a bearing on our hobby and our service as emergency communicators.  Herewith an extract from the new regulations as it affects Amateur Radio in South Africa.  This extract has a direct bearing on Emergency Communications.

Quote:-

(1)       The Licensee is permitted:

(a)       to engage in communication with other licensed amateur stations, using the permitted Amateur Bands, which shall be restricted to comments on technical investigations, remarks of a personal nature and other items of a common interest.  No derogatory, racist, sexual, irreligious, improper, blasphemous, insulting, obscene or threatening remarks shall be transmitted;

(b)       In the case of an emergency, where the safety of life or limb is at stake, to communicate with any other stations, using the Amateur Bands and other bands outside the amateur allocation, to prevent loss of life, to render assistance, to call for assistance or convey health and welfare messages, directly connected with the emergency, under the permission of the Authority.

(c)        to practice emergency communications by providing communications for cycle, motor, marathon, rallies and general community service, especially in times of national interest . Providing that the station engaged in the practice be registered with the national body representing amateur radio in the Republic of South Africa.

(d)              to carry out communications in plain language or Q Code

(e)       To send signals (not enciphered) which form part of, or relate to, the transmission of messages (e.g. Identification Tones)

(2)       No amateur radio station or license holder shall transmit political, derogatory, racist, sexual, irreligious, improper, blasphemous, insulting, obscene, or threatening remarks.

(3)       No amateur station or license holder shall advertise any goods or services or anything else, or transmit any news or messages on behalf of a third person on an amateur station: provided that the Authority may authorise a licensee to transmit;

  (a) Reports on behalf of or by a third person during events that are in the judgement 
     of the Authority in the public interest

(b) Information bulletins that are of direct interest to amateurs; and

(c) Morse Code for reception by persons learning Morse Code operation or for improving their competence in Morse.

(4)        For the purposes of this regulation, messages and signals include communication by any of the modes or types of modulation permitted in the Schedule.

(5)        Appointed stations of the recognised national body representing Amateur Radio in the Republic of South Africa are permitted to broadcast news bulletins and programs of general interest which are of a general nature, to further the Amateur Radio Service, radio science and electronics generally.

(6)        No amateur radio station or license holder shall advertise any goods or services or anything else, or transmit any news or messages on behalf of a third person except as outlined in sub-regulations (1) and (3).

(7)        Stations registered as educational stations will be allowed to demonstrate amateur radio to persons who do not hold a amateur radio license by allowing them to speak and operate the station under the supervision of a licensed amateur at a club station participating in a special educational event or at educational   institutions.

The licensed amateur and the event must be registered with the recognised national body representing amateur radio in the Republic of South Africa.