Appeal for Opinions on System Maintenance Plan for Area Broadcasting Systems Using White Spaces

1. Background

　A report from the “Study Team for New Radio Wave Application Vision” (July 30, 2010) determined that broadcasting systems are to be organized during FY 2011 concerning application of white spaces, which are frequencies that are distributed for use in broadcasting and are also available for other purposes depending on geographic and technical conditions. Also, in the “Policy Dealing with Proposals, etc. Submitted for 'Citizens' Voice' Regulation/System Reform” (cabinet decision of April 8, 2011) it was stated in relation to area broadcasting systems that these would be “first studied in FY2010 and further discussed in FY2011”.

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has now drafted a system maintenance plan for area broadcasting systems using white spaces.

　Accordingly, opinions on this system maintenance plan will now be sought. Furthermore, opinions on a system maintenance plan for technical standards will be held separately based on the results of deliberation by the Information and Communications Council.

2. Outline of public appeal for opinions

(1) Subjects of appeal for opinions

　○Ministerial ordinances　

　・Ministerial ordinance plan for partial revision of Broadcast Act enforcement regulations (1950 Radio Regulatory Council Regulation No. 10)

　・Ministerial ordinance plan for partial revision of basic standards (1950 Radio Regulatory Council Regulation No. 12) for establishment of radio stations (excluding main broadcasting offices)

　・Ministerial ordinance plan for partial revision of basic standards (1950 Radio Regulatory Council Regulation No. 14)

　・Ministerial ordinance plan for partial revision of radio station license procedural rules (1950 Radio Regulatory Council Regulation No. 15)

　・Ministerial ordinance plan for partial revision of radio station license procedural rules (1950 Radio Regulatory Council Regulation No. 17)

　○Bulletins

　・Bulletin plan for partial revision of main broadcasting offices where call symbols or names that can be omitted in accordance with radio station license procedural rules (1959 Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Bulletin No. 509)

　・Bulletin plan for partial revision of code tables to record in each field of radio station items and construction specifications attached to radio station license applications, etc. (excluding radio station objective codes and communication item codes) (2004 MIC Bulletin No. 859)

　・Bulletin plan for partial revision of code tables to record in each field of radio station items and construction specifications attached to radio station license applications, etc. (2004 MIC Bulletin No. 860)

　・Bulletin plan for partial modification of frequency allocation plans (2008 MIC Bulletin No. 714)

　・Bulletin plan establishing the handling of submission of application documents and attachments for licenses for general terrestrial broadcasting offices carrying out area broadcasting (newly established)

　○Directives

　・Directive plan for partial revision of Radio Law-related inspection standards (2001 MIC Directive No. 67)

(2) Deadline for submission of opinions

　Opinions must arrive no later than 17:00 on February 16 (Thu), 2012. Further details are as per the enclosed outline of the public appeal for opinions.

　The system maintenance plan, etc. will be published in the “Reports and documents” area of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) website (http://www.soumu.go.jp) as well as in the “Public comments” section of the e-Gov (http://www.e-gov.go.jp) coordinated electronic government website, and will be distributed at the point of contact provided at the end of this document.

3. Schedule

  System maintenance will be conducted based on the opinions that are submitted as well as the Radio Regulatory Council inquiry and reply.