Astronomy Geographic Advantage Bill

1. Astronomy Geographic Advantage Bill Briefing to the Select Committee on Education and Recreation: 17 October 2007 Dr Phil Mjwara Director General Department of Science and Technology Republic of South Africa

2. Outline • Multi-wavelength Astronomy • Purpose of the AGA Bill • The process to date • Example of Astronomy Advantage Areas • AGA Bill impact on broadcasting and • telecommunications • Continuing stakeholders consultations

3. Multi-Wavelength Research • Southern African Large Telescope – Northern Cape, RSA • High Energy Stereoscopic System – Namibia • Karoo Array Telescope/SKA – Northern Cape, RSA HESS SALT SKA The Electromagnetic spectrum Increasing Energy or Frequency

4. AGA Bill: The Purpose • 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

5. AGA Bill: The Process • AGA Bill presented to Cabinet in Nov 2005 and approved for a public consultation process • Consultations started in early 2006 with stakeholders • Amendments to the AGA Bill presented to Cabinet in Nov 2006 and approved for tabling to Parliament • Presentation of the AGA Bill to the S&T Portfolio Committee • Public hearings

6. AGA Bill: The Process • Further amendments presented to the S&T Portfolio • Committee • Adoption of the AGA Bill by the S&T Portfolio Committee • Presentation of the AGA Bill by S&T Minister to the • National Assembly • Approval of the AGA Bill by the National Assembly and Bill • referred to the NCOP

7. Astronomy Advantage Areas • CORE ADVANTAGE AREAS • Where an astronomy device is located or may be • situated in future • CENTRAL ADVANTAGE AREAS • To protect the core from immediate surroundings negative • interference on astronomy devices • CORDINATED ADVANTAGE AREAS • Regulate the area(s) as buffer zones for the protection of Central and core advantage areas

8. SKA sites

9. SKA Astronomy Advantage Areas • Co-ordination zone Established to prevent high powered broadcast transmitters from negatively impacting the core zone

10. Broadcasting & TelecomsImpact ● FM not affected in all areas ●Single channel analogue television transmissions with high power and from high sites • Effectively replaced with multi-channel low power municipal relay transmitters • Will be migrated to digital technology (low power local transmissions) • All broadcasting services are available from satellite (already digital) ●Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint telecommunication stations for public and private communication systems • Re-engineering can be done to reduce interference in the direction of the radio astronomy instrument

11. Stakeholdersinvolvement • Regulations Advisory Committee • Stakeholder Forum: Astronomy Legislation and Regulations

12. Thank You