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From March 5 to April 4, 2011, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) held an appeal for opinions on a system maintenance plan for radio station licenses and authorization of key terrestrial broadcasting businesses for mobile reception carrying out new broadcasting that aims to utilize frequencies that are becoming available due to the complete digitalization of terrestrial television broadcasting, specifically that which uses frequencies between 207.5MHz and 222MHz (hereinafter, “V-High multimedia broadcasting”). Six opinions were submitted in response to this appeal, and the content of these opinions along with the views of the MIC are officially announced herein.
Additionally, on July 13, 2011 an inquiry concerning part of this system maintenance plan was submitted to the Radio Regulatory Council (Chairman: Hiroshi Harashima, emeritus professor at The University of Tokyo), and a reply was received from the Council stating its approval of the original plan.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will promptly carry out system maintenance based on results from the appeal for opinions and the Council's reply, etc.
1. Background
With regards to V-High multimedia broadcasting, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) authorized “Plans Establishing Special Base Stations Using Frequencies Between 207.5MHz and 222MHz” in September 2010. Subsequently, an appeal was held from March 5 to April 4, 2011 concerning a system maintenance plan for radio station licenses and authorization of key terrestrial broadcasting businesses for mobile reception carrying out V-High multimedia broadcasting.
2. Inquiry submitted to Radio Regulatory Council, and Council's report
After the above-mentioned appeal for opinions, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) on July 13, 2011 submitted an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council concerning the following system maintenance plan, and a reply was received from the Council stating its approval of the original plan.
1. System maintenance for authorization of commissioned broadcasting businesses
A. Ministerial ordinance plan for partial revision of ministerial ordinance concerning standards for freedom of expression enjoyed by key broadcasting businesses
B. Ministerial ordinance plan for partial revision of ministerial ordinance establishing exceptions from standards for freedom of expression concerning key broadcasting business for subsidiaries of authorized broadcasting holding companies
C. Bulletin plan for partial revision of key broadcasting diffusion plan
2. System maintenance for radio station licenses
A. Ministerial ordinance plan for partial revision of basic standards for establishment of key broadcasting channels
B. Ministerial ordinance plan for partial revision of procedural rules for radio station licenses
C. Bulletin plan for partial revision of key broadcast-use frequency utilization plan
*Please note that some parts of the system maintenance plan have changed since the appeal for opinions due to enforcement of the Law for Partial Revision of the Broadcast Act, etc. (Act No. 65 of 2010 Law). However, these changes do not require policy decisions.
3. Schedule
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will promptly carry out system maintenance based on results from the appeal for opinions and the Council's reply, etc., and will subsequently start to accept applications for authorization of key terrestrial broadcasting businesses for mobile reception carrying out V-High multimedia broadcasting and for radio station licenses from those whose establishment plans have been authorized.
Related reports and documents
○ Authorization of Plans for Establishing Special Base Stations Using Frequencies Between 207.5MHz and 222MHz (September 9, 2010)
○ Appeal for Opinions on Thinking Behind System Maintenance for Authorization of Mobile Device-oriented Multimedia Broadcasting Business Commissions, and Survey of Potential Market Entrants (October 28, 2010)
○ Official Announcement concerning Results from Opinions on Thinking Behind System Maintenance for Authorization of Mobile Device-oriented Multimedia Broadcasting Business Commissions, and Survey of Potential Market Entrants (December 3, 2010)
○ Appeal for Opinions on Service Maintenance concerning V-High Multimedia Broadcasting Business Licenses and Radio Station Licenses (March 4, 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 |
