|
On July 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 four bulletin plans for the extension of deadlines for use of terrestrial analog broadcasting frequencies, and a reply was received from the Council stating its approval of the original plans.
Based on the outcome of this reply, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will promptly modify these four bulletins.
1. Background
Until now, relevant parties have unitedly promoted the servicing of terrestrial digital broadcasting reception environments nation-wide in order to implement smooth migration to terrestrial digital broadcasting, contributing to effective frequency utilization. However, since it is expected that the servicing of terrestrial digital broadcasting reception environments in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures (hereinafter, “three prefectures in the Tohoku region”), which were seriously damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, will not meet the legally established deadline of July 24, 2011, the “Act on Special Measures in the Radio Law for Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake” (Act No. 68 of 2011 Law) was enacted on June 15, 2011 to regulate measures such as maximum one-year extensions to the deadlines for use of frequencies for terrestrial analog broadcasting in these regions.
Accordingly, the relevant bulletins will be partially modified due to the need for regulation of terrestrial analog broadcasting period extensions, etc. in three prefectures in the Tohoku region.
2. Outline of modifications
(1) Broadcasting Diffusion Master Plan (1988 Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Bulletin No. 660)
・Terrestrial analog broadcasting in three prefectures in the Tohoku region will be extended until March 31, 2012.
(2) Frequency Allocation Program (2008 Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) Bulletin No. 714)
Broadcast-use Frequency Utilization Plan (1988 Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Bulletin No. 661)
・The deadline for use of terrestrial analog broadcasting frequencies in three prefectures in the Tohoku region will be extended until March 31, 2012.
・Among the frequencies used for terrestrial analog broadcasting in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, the deadline for use of frequencies requiring frequency migration (repacking) will be extended until March 31, 2013.
(3) “Guidelines for Establishment of Special Base Stations Using Frequencies between 207.5MHz and 222MHz” (2010 Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) Bulletin No. 183)
・The use of frequencies for V-High multimedia broadcasting in three prefectures in the Tohoku region will be extended until April 1, 2012.
3. Results from report, and future schedule
On July 13, 2011, an inquiry was submitted to the Radio Regulatory Council concerning four bulletin plans for the partial modification of relevant bulletins, and a reply was received from the Council stating its approval of the original plans. Based on the outcome of this reply, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will promptly modify the relevant bulletins.
+++++++++++++++
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 |
