Info-communications Media Development Authority Bill

Info-communications Media
Development Authority Bill

Bill No. 21/2016

Read the first time on 11th July 2016.

An Act to establish the Info‑communications Media Development Authority, to make provision for competition and consumer protection in the media industry, to repeal the Info‑communications Development Authority of Singapore Act (Chapter 137A of the 2000 Revised Edition) and the Media Development Authority of Singapore Act (Chapter 172 of the 2003 Revised Edition), and to make consequential and related amendments to certain other Acts.

Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:

PART 1

PRELIMINARY

Short title and commencement

1. This Act is the Info-communications Media Development Authority Act 2016 and comes into operation on a date that the Minister appoints by notification in the Gazette.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“auditor”, in relation to the Authority, means the Auditor‑General or such other auditor appointed by the Minister under section 55(1);

“Authority” means the Info‑communications Media Development Authority established by section 3;

“broadcasting licence” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Broadcasting Act (Cap. 28);

“broadcasting service” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Broadcasting Act;

“Chairperson”, in relation to the Authority, means the member of the Authority who is appointed under section 13(1)(a) as the Chairperson of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity;

“Chief Executive”, in relation to the Authority, means the Chief Executive of the Authority appointed under section 40(2), and includes any individual acting in that capacity;

“code of practice” means a code of practice or standard of performance issued under section 61;

“committee”, in relation to the Authority, means a committee of the Authority appointed under section 36;

“committee member” means a member of a committee of the Authority appointed under section 36;

“delegate”, in relation to the Authority, means a person to whom the Authority, under section 38(1), delegates any of its functions or powers;

“Deputy Chairperson”, in relation to the Authority, means the member of the Authority who is appointed under section 13(1)(b) as the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority;

“document” includes any device or medium on which information is recorded or stored;

“employee”, in relation to the Authority, means —

(a)	in the case of section 6(2)(r) and Part 9, an individual who is employed by the Authority under a contract of service; or
(b)	in any other case, an individual who is employed by the Authority under a contract of service or who is otherwise engaged to perform duties in the Authority;

“essential resource” means any apparatus, accessory, system, service, information or other resource of any kind that is —

(a)	used or intended to be used in connection with the provision of any media service; and
(b)	specified by the Authority, by notification in the Gazette, to be an essential resource;

“function”, in relation to the Authority, means a function conferred on the Authority by this Act or any other Act;

“information and communications service” means any service involving the use of information and communications technology;

“information and communications system” means any system used or intended to be used for information and communications technology;

“information and communications technology” means any technology employed in the collection, storage, use or transmission of information, and includes a technology that involves the use of a computer or a telecommunication system;

“information, communications and media industry” means an industry comprising persons who carry on any business or engage in any commercial activity in connection with one or more, or any part, or any combination, of the following:

(a)	an information and communications service;
(b)	a media service;
(c)	an information and communications system;
(d)	an information and communications technology;

“inspecting officer” means an individual who is appointed as an inspecting officer under section 42;

“media” means —

(a)	a film as defined in section 2(1) of the Films Act (Cap. 107);
(b)	a newspaper;
(c)	a broadcasting service;
(d)	a publication as defined in section 2 of the Undesirable Publications Act (Cap. 338); or
(e)	such other medium of communication of information, entertainment or other matter to the public (or a section of the public) as the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, specify,

and “media industry” and “media service” have corresponding meanings;

“member”, in relation to the Authority, means a member of the Authority appointed under section 11, and includes a temporary member appointed under section 15(2);

“newspaper” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Cap. 206);

“newspaper company” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act;

“power”, in relation to the Authority, means a power given to the Authority by this Act or any other Act;

“proprietor”, in relation to a newspaper, has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act;

“regulated person” means —

(a)	in the case of section 65, a newspaper company; or
(b)	in any other case, the holder of a broadcasting licence or the proprietor of a newspaper,

that is specified by the Minister, by notification in the Gazette, to be a regulated person;

“telecommunication service” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Telecommunications Act (Cap. 323);

“telecommunication system” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Telecommunications Act;

“telecommunications” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Telecommunications Act.

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