Cofek wants digital migration deadline set for October 31

A consumer lobby group has told the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) to postpone the analogue transmission switch off by 10 months as it prepares to negotiate with the regulator on the new deadline.

Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) wants CCK to push its deadline to October 31, 2013, several months after election, to allow a smooth transition while at the same time not cutting off consumers who heavily rely on media for updates on March 4 events.

Cofek’s decision follows a High Court ruling by Justice Isaac Lenaola to stop the switch off of the analogue broadcasting signal until an application it filed is determined. The judge advised the two parties (Cofek and CCK) to agree on an amicable deadline preferably after the General Election.

Cofek had moved to court late last year after the Ministry of Information and Communications overlooked stakeholders’ participation in the matter.      

In the case, Cofek claimed that the consumers and the general public’s right to information would be severely infringed because the price of the machines required to convert the digital signal to a format compatible with the analogue TV sets remains prohibitive.

READ: TV set-top boxes costly despite import duty waiver

The court ruling is a huge embarrassment to the government which failed honour Cofek’s initial requests to be involved in the digital migration team for input.

“We are not sure how the government will behave on the negotiating table because they had earlier refused consultation,” said Cofek's secretary-general, Stephen Mutoro.

Cofek is approaching the negotiating table with five demands in hand.

The issues it wants addressed, in a meeting scheduled for next week, is the cost of the set-top boxes, provision of a one-year warranty by suppliers, six months public awareness campaign, October 31st switch off date and that the legal cost be met by the respondents, CCK.

“We are not conducting any trade off, but we have incurred both direct and in kind costs which are a moderate figure of Sh2.5million. We want it settled,” said Mr Mutoro during a press briefing after the Friday ruling.

The lobby group wants the gadgets to be priced less than Sh1,000 to caution the needy. It is also calling on CCK to increase the number of suppliers from the current 12 to unlimited figure, as long as they comply with the stringent requirements from the regulator.

Last month the Business Daily reported that ministry officials had said that the Treasury had agreed to finance the subsidy on the set-top boxes. However, Cofek says they are awaiting formal communication from the exchequer on the issue.

The lobby group hopes that if it be the case, it will be reflected in the June 2013/14 budget.

“We hope the lesson has been learnt. People should stop wasting money in court processes,” added Mr Mutoro who accused the Information permanent secretary of being arrogant and acting in the interest of businesses other than the public.

The court gave the parties until February 20 to reach a consensus. If negotiations will have not commenced by then, Cofek will advise the High Court to proceed and make its own determination on the matter.