20 No. 28743 Act No. 36, 2005 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18 APRIL 2006 ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS ACT, 2005 (a) promote and facilitate the convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting, information technologies and other services contemplated in this Act; (b) promote and facilitate the development of interoperable and interconnected electronic networks, the provision of the services contemplated in the Act and to create a technologically neutral licencing framework; (c) promote the universal provision of electronic communications networks and electronic communications services and connectivity for all; (d) encourage investment and innovation in the communications sector; (e) ensure efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum; (f) promote competition within the ICT sector; (g) promote an environment of open, fair and non-discriminatory access to broadcasting services, electronic communication networks and to electronic communications services; (h) promote the empowerment of historically disadvantaged persons, including Black people, with particular attention to the needs of women, opportunities for youth and challenges for people with disabilities; (i) encourage research and development within the ICT sector; (j) provide a clear allocation of roles and assignment of tasks between policy formulation and regulation within the ICT sector; (k) ensure that broadcasting services and electronic communications services, viewed collectively, are provided by persons or groups of persons from a diverse range of communities in the Republic; (l) provide assistance and support towards human resource development within the ICT sector; (m) ensure the provision of a variety of quality electronic communications services at reasonable prices; (n) promote the interests of consumers with regard to the price, quality and the variety of electronic communications services; (o) subject to the provisions of this Act, promote, facilitate and harmonise the achievement of the objects of the related legislation; (p) develop and promote SMMEs and cooperatives; (q) ensure information security and network reliability; (r) promote the development of public, commercial and community broadcasting services which are responsive to the needs of the public; (s) ensure that broadcasting services, viewed collectively— (i) promote the provision and development of a diverse range of sound and television broadcasting services on a national, regional and local level, that cater for all language and cultural groups and provide entertainment, education and information; (ii) provide for regular— (aa) news services; (bb) actuality programmes on matters of public interest; (cc) programmes on political issues of public interest; and (dd) programmes on matters of international, national, regional and local significance; (iii) cater for a broad range of services and specifically for the programming needs of children, women, the youth and the disabled; (t) protect the integrity and viability of public broadcasting services; (u) ensure that, in the provision of public broadcasting services— (i) the needs of language, cultural and religious groups; (ii) the needs of the constituent regions of the Republic and local communities; and (iii) the need for educational programmes, are duly taken into account; (v) ensure that commercial and community broadcasting licences, viewed collectively, are controlled by persons or groups of persons from a diverse range of communities in the Republic; (w) ensure that broadcasting services are effectively controlled by South Africans; 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55