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

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

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

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

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 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 AGA Bill: The Process

Astronomy Advantage Areas 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

SKA sites

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

● 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 Broadcasting & Telecoms Impact

Stakeholders involvement Regulations Advisory Committee Stakeholder Forum: Astronomy Legislation and Regulations

Thank You