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On April 13, 2011, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) submitted an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council (Chairman: Hiroshi Harashima, emeritus professor at The University of Tokyo) concerning a bulletin plan for partial reform of the Broadcast-use Frequency Utilization Plan (1988 Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Bulletin No. 661), and a reply was received from the Council stating its approval of the original plan.
There was also a broad appeal for opinions concerning this bulletin plan held from March 9 to April 7, 2011, in response to which 10 opinions were submitted. These opinions, along with the views of the MIC, are officially announced herein.
Accordingly, the MIC will promptly carry out partial reform of the Broadcast-use Frequency Utilization Plan based on this reply and results from the appeal for opinions.
1. Reasons for modification
Due to the current simultaneous broadcasts of analog and digital broadcasting from the perspective of smoothly progressing towards the complete implementation of terrestrial digital television broadcasting scheduled for July 2011, the frequencies available for television broadcasting are becoming extremely scarce. Under these circumstances, it has been confirmed that in some regions there are difficulties with reception because of the effects of abnormal radio wave transmission phenomena, etc. (radio duct phenomena) that occasionally occur on a seasonal basis.
Since it will be necessary to switch some relay stations to other channels after the termination of analog broadcasting in July 2011 in order to resolve these difficulties with reception and maintain a favorable reception environment for terrestrial digital television broadcasting, this modification of the Broadcast-use Frequency Utilization Plan is to enable channel changes for these relay stations.
2. Details of modifications
Bulletin Plan for Partial Reform of Broadcast-use Frequency Utilization Plan (new-old comparison table) (see attachment)
3. Reply from Council, and results from appeal for opinions
(1) On April 13, 2011, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) submitted an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council concerning the bulletin plan, and a reply was received from the Council stating its approval of the original plan.
(2) An appeal for opinions concerning this bulletin plan was held from March 9 to April 7, 2011, in response to which 10 opinions were submitted. These opinions, along with the views of the MIC, are as per the enclosed documents.
4. Schedule
Based on the reply from the Radio Regulatory Council and results from the appeal for opinions, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will promptly carry out partial reform of the Broadcast-use Frequency Utilization Plan.
Related reports and documents
Appeal for Opinions concerning Bulletin Plan for Partial Reform of Broadcast-use Frequency Utilization Plan (March 8, 2011)
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For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/contact.html
International Policy Division,
Global ICT Strategy Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81 3 5253 5374 / FAX: +81 3 5253 5924 |
