Commendations at the 2007 Radio Day and Info-Communications Promotion Month Central Memorial Ceremony
On the occasion of observing the 57th Radio Day (June 1, 2007) and the fiscal 2007 Info-Communications Promotion Month (from May 15 to June 15), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is to commend, at the Central Memorial Ceremony, individuals and organizations that have contributed to the development of telecommunications and excellent examples of ICT services and systems that have provided solutions to problems encountered in a variety of life and business situations.
An overview of this ceremony is provided in the following:
The commendations summarized below are to be bestowed at the 2007 Radio Day and Info-Communications Promotion Month Central Memorial Ceremony that is to be held at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo from 11 a.m., June 1, 2007 (scheduled time).
1. Radio Day Ministerial Commendations
3 individuals
3 organizations
2. Info-Communications Promotion Month Ministerial Commendations
4 individuals
5 organizations
3. “u-Japan Best Practice Award” Ministerial Commendations
1 u-Japan Grand Prize
2 Best Life Solution Award
2 Best Business Solution Award
4. Others
On the same day, along with the award presentations by the MIC Minister, Info-Communications Promotion Month Council President (Mr. KATSUMATA Tsunehisa) is to commend individuals and organizations that have contributed to the development of telecommunications.
Also, other than the “u-Japan Best Practice Award” Ministerial Commendations, u-Japan Screening Committee special prize is to be awarded separately.
(Reference)
* Radio Day
In 1950, the Radio Law, the Broadcast Law, and the Radio Regulatory Commission Establishment Law were enacted, and the use of radio waves that had been monopolized by the Government was opened to the Japanese people. To commemorate this occasion, “Radio Day” was established to popularize and enhance scientific knowledge of radio waves among all segments of the Japanese people and to contribute to the development of radio wave use.
* Info-Communications Promotion Month
This event was established to popularize and advance telecommunications, and through implementing a variety of events on telecommunications all over Japan during this period, It encourages people’s understanding that telecommunications help improve the quality of life and cooperation.
* u-Japan Best Practice Award
As a part of its “u-Japan” policy initiative, MIC introduced the u-Japan Best Practice Award in 2006. The award aims to acknowledge ICT applications that effectively employ ubiquitous networking technologies to solve wide-ranging problems in life and business situations. In 2007, from all of the entries, the u-Japan Best Practice Reviewing Committee selected five exceptional applications for the “u-Japan Grand Prize”, “Best Life Solution Award”, and “Best Business Solution Award”.
Radio Day Ministerial Commendations
(Individuals)
1) AKASHI Hiroyoshi -President Kyushu Mobile Radio Center
2) SAITO Masao - Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo & Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Denki University
3) HIRATA Yasuo - Chairman of the Board of Director, KDDI R&D Laboratories
(Organizations)
1) Association of Radio Industries & Businesses, Frequency Change Support Headquarters (Director General - INAMOTO Yoshiaki)
2) Digital Broadcasting Experts Group (DiBEG) (Chairman - TAKAHASHI Yasuo)
3) Brazilian Society of Television Engineering (SET) (President - Roberto Franco)
(Individuals)
1) INAMINE Keiichi - Former Governor of Okinawa Prefecture
2) TOYODA Shoichiro - Honorary Chairman, Nippon Keidanren
3) HAYASHI Toshihiko - Professor, The University of the Air
4) YOSHIYAMA Kenji - Advisor, NEC Corporation
(Organizations)
1) e-Net Caravan Promotion Council (Director General - TAGAWA Yoshihiro)
2) Kamikatsu Town (Town Mayor - KASAMATSU Kazuichi)
3) Next Generation IP Network Promotion Forum (Chairman - SAITO Tadao)
4) Japan Telework Association (Chairman - AOKI Toshiharu)
5) Hokkaido Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (Representative Director, President - OGIYA Tadao)
(u-Japan Grand Prize)
1) Bedside safety control system using RFID tags (Akita University Hospital)
(Best Life Solution Award)
1) Community-based data broadcasting (“Nandemo TV”) (Reinan Cable Network Co., Ltd.)
2) Educational Support project for capacity building of human resource in charge of the future of the region (Fukushima Prefecture’s Board of Education and Benesse Corporation)
(Best Business Solution Award)
1) New workstyle system by thin client with free-address and high-security (Hitachi, Ltd.)
2) FOMA TV phone alcoholic check system (NTT DoCoMo, Inc.)
(Shida Rinzaburo Prize)
1) KITAYAMA Ken-ichi, Professor, Division of Electrical, Electronics and Information Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University
(Contribution to Info-Communications Prize - Individuals)
1) OIE Yuji - Professor, Department of Computer Science and Electronics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology
2) FUJIMOTO Yoshinori - Chief Manager, Mobile Wireless Network Division, NEC Corporation
(Contribution to Info-Communications Prize - Organizations)
1) Gourmet Navigator Inc. (Chairman - TAKI Hisao)
2) mixi, Inc. (President - KASAHARA Kenji)
3) Conference on Examining Guidelines for the Law Concerning the Liability of Internet Service Provider (Chairman - NAKAO Tetsuo)
Mobile security infrastructure (Hitachi, Ltd., NTT DoCoMo, Inc., KDDI R&D Laboratories, NEC Corporation)
Announcement of Final Report from Panel on ICT International Competitiveness
MIC set up the Panel on ICT International Competitiveness in October 2006 to investigate how Japan’s global competitiveness in the field of ICT can be consolidated, and directions for basic strategy to achieve this. The Panel spent about half a year in a series of debates and recently compiled its final results which were announced on April 23 when the report was handed over by chairman SAITO Tadao (professor emeritus) to MIC Minister SUGA Yoshihide.
In the basic strategy that was investigated by the Panel, goals were defined such as “Year of Consolidating ICT International Competitiveness”, “Working Towards a Strong industry with a Global perspective” and “The Plan to Double ICT GDP.” In addition, proposals for basic ideas for promoting the strategy included consolidating an efficient and lateral approach through cooperation between industry, academia and government, promoting the necessary measures as an integrated package in a general, strategic and organic fashion, and strengthening Japan’s “power of global coexistence” so that it can co-exist with the many variations of the global market.
MIC has compiled the contents that were investigated by the Panel into a “Program for Consolidating ICT International Competitiveness” and is making preparations to put in place even more concrete measures.
Basic strategy for consolidating ICT International Competitiveness
Basic cycle for consolidating international competitiveness
Photo, from the right, MIC Minister SUGA Yoshihide, SAITO Tadao, Emeritus Professor, Tokyo University, and Chair of the Panel on ICT International Competitiveness, and TANIGUCHI Kazufumi, Parliamentary Secretary for Internal Affairs and Communications
MIC Minister SUGA Yoshihide who attended the Panel stated that “We want to eliminate all the factor that hamper our global competitiveness” (To the right of the photo is TAMURA Norihisa, MIC Vice-Minister)
Using the Radio Frequencies that Support our Daily Lives More Safely, Securely and Conveniently
An environment has been put in place for the safe usage of radio frequencies
Radio frequencies are transmitted across international borders. That is why there are international usage rules in place. We take part in international cooperation on surveillance of radio frequencies that are used in the navigation of ships or international broadcasts, and radio frequencies from artificial satellites.
We are taking proper measures with regard to the safety of radio frequencies
Making Radio Frequencies More Convenient! Amendments in the Radio Law and the Telecommunications Business Law
Technologies for the use of radio frequencies have seen rapid progress recently, and new services such as third generation mobile phones and terrestrial digital broadcasting are appearing one after the other. On the other hand, with the greater use of radio frequencies in various applications, the number of radio stations has also increased and the radio frequencies that make up the infrastructure of these services have become extremely crowded.
This is where MIC, in the midst of this congestion of radio frequencies, is proposing a new system so as to make use of radio frequencies more convenient, and to enable the provision of new services (submission of proposals for amendments to the Radio Law and the Telecommunications Business law to the National Diet) that are in line with market demands and the results of technological advances.
The following introduces the main points of these amendments.
Under the present system, experimental radio stations can be set up and testing conducted only in cases where the aim is to advance science or technological development.
Under the new system, in addition to these, it will become possible to set up in order to conduct tests using technologies already in existence or conduct needs testing for new services, and these will be called “Experimental and other radio stations.” This will bring about greater possibilities for using new services that are in line with the demands of the market and the results of technological advances.
Under the present, if you do have a license and are not registered, you cannot operate a wireless radio station, but in response to demands for lending out wireless radio stations for event or during disasters, a system is being introduced so that wireless radio stations that cause minimal interference can be operated with minimal procedures. This system will make it possible to use radio frequencies more easily.
(1) In the case of registered wireless radio stationsTheoretical case example: [simple wireless (portable type)]
(2) In the case of emergency communications*
* A situation that arises at times of earthquakes, typhoons, floods, tsunami, snow damage, civil disturbances and the like, or in cases where there is the fear of an occurrence, communications that are used in order to come to the aid of people, for emergency rescue, to secure traffic communications or maintain order.
Theoretical case example: [Regional public organization’s terrestrial mobile station]
Amendment of the law for Implementation of Mutual recognition(MRA Law)
in response to the age of globalization
Mutual recognition
- A system by which the certification that is required when selling or using a product in another country can be performed by a certification organization in one’s own country, with mutual agreement that the other country will accept those results
- Until now, mutual recognition agreements for telecommunications equipment had been signed between Japan and Europe (effective in January 2002) and between Japan and Singapore (effective in November 2002).
- A proposal has been submitted to the current session of the Diet for a mutual recognition assessment concerning telecommunications equipment with the United States, and for the amended Mutual Recognition Assessment Law for its implementation. It is currently under deliberation.
