66 No. 37261 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24 JANUARY 2014 There are though a number of other questions which need to be considered in this policy review process. These include the following: The current White Paper envisaged commercial radio services being licensed across the country. While there are now services available outside of the urban areas, and new licence applications being considered in the Eastern Cape, the viability of these stations in these secondary towns needs to be carefully evaluated.. Private commercial radio stations are all licensed to cover relatively limited areas. (This is in part limited by spectrum availability.) Commercial radio stations are however still broadcasting predominantly in English (with some also including Afrikaans and others, such as Igagasi in KwaZulu-Natal also broadcasting in isiZulu). 8.9 Community Broadcasting The current White Paper outlines the vision for the community broadcasting sector as a whole and states that it "must provide a distinct broadcasting service dealing specifically with community issues which are not normally dealt with by other broadcasting services covering the area in question. It is a non-profit sector in terms of law, and stations and channels have to involve their targeted communities in the governance and operations of services. Early challenges faced by the sector as a whole (and community radio in particular) of slow and cumbersome licensing processes have been addressed by the introduction of the EC Act. The sections of the EC Act dealing with class licensing, while ensuring quick turnaround times for decisions on registration (60 days) may limit the ability of the regulator to scrutinise applications to ensure they meet all the envisaged objectives and requirements for the sector. ICASA, for example, is not specifically empowered in terms of the Act to refuse an application if it has, for example, not met requirements relating to community participation set out in Section 50 of the EC Act. The Act further does not empower the Authority to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a class licence - even if the licensee has for example repeatedly violated legislative, regulatory or licensing requirements. 8.9.1 Community radio The White Paper on Broadcasting of 1998 emphasises the need for the regulator and Department of Communications to develop a planned roll out strategy to ensure that communities in need are specifically targeted. In addition, government in 2002 took its commitment to supporting community media further - establishing as a public private partnership the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA). Much has changed in this regard since the publication of the White Paper seemingly evidence of the success of the Department of Communications programmes, the MDDA support to the sector and the policy's focus on disadvantaged areas. Whereas at the time of finalising the paper, most stations on air were either community of interest stations (for example religious or Afrikaner) or based in urban areas and many broadcast in English, the number of stations broadcasting in disadvantaged and rural communities has grown along with the listenership levels. 8.9.2 Community television There are now six community television services on air centred around the major cities of South Africa. All of the community television services are also transmitted to a national audience via the DSTV platform. DTT policies and regulations have set aside capacity for community television channels (on Multiplex 1). The funding mix of the community stations includes advertising, donations and sponsorships. 62 This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za