ARTICLE 19 has analysed the Draft TV White Space Guidelines for Uganda proposed by the Uganda Communications Commission for its compliance with international, regional and constitutional freedom of expression standards.
The Draft TV White Space Guidelines for Uganda currently being considered by the Uganda Communications Commission is a welcome step towards establishing a framework for reducing the digital divide. It will see Uganda join South Africa as the second African country to enact TVWS guidelines. While other countries have carried out various trials these have lacked clear regulatory guidelines.
ARTICLE 19 supports the over-all approach but finds the Draft would benefit from small improvements to ensure its protections are in harmony with those of fundamental rights of freedom of expression and the right to information as recognized by the Constitution of Uganda and in international law.
In particular, Uganda could benefit from flexible technical criteria, a distributed and competitive approach to database holders, and a public commitment by regulatory authority to strong privacy protections.