Appeal for Opinions on Draft Revision of “Guidelines for Operation of Verifications (Stack Tests) of Relationship between Connection Charges and User Charges”

1.Background

  In General, the retail price is a total of costs and fair profits when the market mechanism functions effectively. Therefore, the MIC has conducted verifications (stack tests) of relationship between connection charges and user charges in order to verify the adequacy of connection charges related to category I designated telecommunications facilities, and formulates guidelines prescribing basic ideas and specific implementation methods of these tests in order to ensure transparency related to the implementation of stack tests.
  A draft revision of guidelines has been compiled with regard to the following point and an appeal for opinions on this draft revision will be held from June 8 (Fri) to July 6 (Fri), 2012.

  Addition of FLET’S Hikari Light(*)
  FLET’S Hikari Light is added to the category of verification of stack tests implemented by business operators that set connection charges, as Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation have started to offer FLET’S Hikari Light service from FY2011.
  (*) This is an optical broadband service that adopts the two-step fixed price starting from a reasonable basic price but not exceeding a certain maximum price according to usage of users so that it is attractive for those who do not frequently use the Internet.
 

2.Guidelines for appeal for opinions

  Subjects of appeal for opinions:
  - Draft revision of guidelines
  - Comparative table

  Deadline for appeal for opinions: July 6 (Fri), 2012, 5PM (submission of opinions by mail must arrive by this date)

  The subjects of the appeal for opinions will be posted in the column of “press release” on the MIC website (http://www.soumu.go.jp) and the column of “public comments” on the e-government portal (e-Gov) (http://www.e-gov.go.jp) and also distributed at counters of contact.
 

3.Future plans

  The MIC will swiftly revise the guidelines based on opinions submitted.