June 2007

ASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILLASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILL

Department of Science and Technology Scientia CampusMeiring Naude RoadTshwane0001

June 2007

AGAP:A 10-year Strategic OutlookAGAP:A 10-year Strategic Outlook (to be finalised in 2007) (to be finalised in 2007)

• Steer knowledge production, publication, transmission and preservationSteer knowledge production, publication, transmission and preservation

• Strategy should be focused and aim for greater efficiency to collectively Strategy should be focused and aim for greater efficiency to collectively advance researchadvance research

• Provide framework for critical mass developmentProvide framework for critical mass development

• Increase visibility of scientific researchIncrease visibility of scientific research

ASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE ASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE PROGRAMME (AGAP)PROGRAMME (AGAP)

June 2007

AGAP MULTI-WAVELENGTH RESEARCHAGAP MULTI-WAVELENGTH RESEARCH

• Southern African Large Telescope – Northern Cape, RSA• High Energy Stereoscopic System – Namibia• Karoo Array Telescope/SKA – Northern Cape, RSA

SKASALTHESS

The Electromagnetic spectrum

Increasing Energy or Frequency

June 2007

ASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILLASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILL

• Protect Astronomy investments already made in South Africa

• Maintain an environment for a global astronomy hub that will continue to attract international investments

• Create a competitive edge for South Africa to win the bid to host the SKA

• Attract Astronomy investments which may include C-BASS (C-Band All-Sky Survey) and DSN (Deep Space Network) Array

The Purpose

June 2007

The Process (1)

• AGA Bill presented to Cabinet in Nov 2005 and approved for a public consultation process • Consultations started in early 2006 and the following stakeholders have been approached:

i. Government departments and public sector entitiesii. National operators iii. Key partners

ASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILLASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILL

June 2007

Comments requested from (Comments requested from (comments receivedcomments received from from those in greenthose in green):):

• DoCDoC, DoD, DME, DPE, , DoD, DME, DPE, DPLGDPLG, DoT & DTI, DoT & DTI

• Northern Cape ProvinceNorthern Cape Province

• ICASAICASA, , CAACAA & SAPS & SAPS

• ATNSATNS, , ESKOMESKOM, , SentechSentech, , TelkomTelkom & & TransnetTransnet

• Cell-C, MTN,Cell-C, MTN, SNO/Neotel & VodacomVodacom

CONSULTATIONS ON THE AGA BILL

June 2007

The Process (2)

• Amendments to the AGA Bill presented to Cabinet in Nov 2006 and approved for tabling to Parliament • A communications strategy on the positive impact of the Bill is developed as part broader Astronomy communication plan in partnership with the NC Government

ASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILLASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILL

June 2007

ASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILLASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILL

CATEGORIES OF ADVANTAGE AREAS

i. Coreii. Centraliii. Co-ordinated

June 2007

ASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILLASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILL

CORE ADVANTAGE AREAS

• Where an astronomy device is located or may be situated in future

June 2007

ASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILLASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILL

CENTRAL ADVANTAGE AREAS

• To protect the core from immediate surroundings negative Interference on astronomy devices

CORE ADVANTAGE AREAS

• Where an astronomy device is located or may be situated in future

June 2007

ASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILLASTRONOMY GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE BILL

CORDINATED ADVANTAGE AREAS

• Regulate the area(s) as buffer zones for the protection of Central and core advantage areas

CENTRAL ADVANTAGE AREAS

• To protect the core from immediate surroundings negative Interference on astronomy devices

CORE ADVANTAGE AREAS

• Where an astronomy device is located or may be situated in future

June 2007

Co-ordination zone Established to prevent high powered broadcast transmitters from negatively impacting the core zone

COORDINATED AND CENTRAL ADVANTAGE AREASCOORDINATED AND CENTRAL ADVANTAGE AREAS

June 2007

CHAPTER 2: DECLARATION OF ASTRONOMY ADVANTAGE AREAS

• Minister may declare an astronomy advantage area

• Minister may withdraw or exclude an astronomy advantage area

June 2007

BROADCASTING & TELECOMUNICATIONS IMPACTBROADCASTING & TELECOMUNICATIONS IMPACT

● Radio astronomy instruments in remote sparsely populated areas i. To minimise overall impact

● FM not affected in all areas

● Single channel analogue television transmissions with high power and from high sites

i. Effectively replaced with multi-channel low power municipal relay transmitters

ii. Will be migrated to digital technology (low power local transmissions)

iii. All broadcasting services are available from satellite (already digital)

● Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint telecommunication stations for public and private communication systems

i. Re-engineering can be done to reduce interference in the direction of the radio astronomy instrument

ii. Alternative technologies can be usable

June 2007

CHAPTER 3:MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF CENTRAL AND CORE ASTRONOMY ADVANTAGE AREA

• Management Authorities (Section 15)• Minister must declare the assignment of the management of core astronomy advantage area to a suitable person/organization or organ of state• Restrictions in core astronomy advantage area• Declared activities in a core or central astronomy advantage area• Authorization to undertake identified activities

June 2007

CHAPTER 4: GENERAL MEASURES TO PROMOTE ASTRONOMY

• Astronomy and Astronomy devices• International agreements regarding astronomy and related scientific endeavors• National Standards for control of activities which may be detrimental to astronomy.

June 2007

CHAPTER 5- Acquisition of rights in or to land

CHAPTER6- Consultation and public participation

CHAPTER 7- Powers and functions of the NRF

CHAPTER 8- Offences and penalties