President Thabo Mbeki has signed the Electronic Communications Act (EC Act), formerly the Convergence Bill. A notice that he has assented to the Act was published in Government Gazette number 28743 and is available on the Department of Communications' Web site. The Act provides a regulatory framework for the convergence of broadcasting, broadcasting signal distribution and the telecommunications sectors. The Act also repeals the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act and portions of the Broadcasting Act. However, there are other legal processes that have to take place before it becomes operational law. Source: Balancing Act (issue 302)