Appeal for Opinions on Draft Institutional Revision of Area Broadcasting Utilizing White Space

1.Background

  A report from the “Review Team of a New Vision for Utilizing Radio Waves (July 30, 2010)” prescribes that broadcasting-type systems shall be institutionalized during FY2011 with regard to the utilization of white space (Note 1). The area broadcasting (Note 2) system was institutionalized in March 2012 ahead of other white space use systems.
  In realizing institutionalization of this area broadcasting, the Information and Communications Council and the Meeting for White Space Promotion are supposed to conduct specific deliberations on sharing of white space by other white space use systems using UFH bands from technical and operational viewpoints during FY2012. Therefore, it was decided that area broadcasting systems for FY2013 and after will be reviewed separately based on the above-mentioned deliberations, etc.

(Note 1) Frequencies assigned for certain purposes such as broadcasting that can also be used for other purposes depending on geographical and temporal conditions.
(Note 2) Broadcasting services provided to limited areas for terrestrial digital television broadcasting receivers such as One-Segment mobile phones, etc. utilizing UHF-band white space assigned for terrestrial digital television broadcasting.
 

2.Outline of draft institutional revision

  In July 2012, specified radio microphones were institutionalized as a system using white spaces of the same frequency band, and an interim report on structure for adjustment of operation of white space use systems formulated by the Working Group for White Space Use established under the Meeting for White Space Promotion was officially announced. The MIC has created the draft institutional revision on area broadcasting utilizing white space based on such a background and will hold an appeal for opinions on this draft institutional revision.
 

3.Guidelines for public appeal for opinions

  (1) Subjects of appeal for opinions
  Ministerial Ordinances
  - Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Revision of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 14 of 1950)
  - Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Revision of the Regulations for Procedure for Obtaining a Radio Station License (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 15 of 1950) Official Directive
  - Draft Official Directive for Partial Revision of the Examination Standards related to the Radio Act (Official Directive of MIC No.67 of 2001)
  (2) Deadline for appeal for opinions
  November 18 (Sun), 2012, 5:00PM
  The draft institutional revision, etc. 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 for reading at the following counter of contact.
 

4.Future plans

  The MIC will make institutional improvement based on opinions submitted, and the inquiry to and report from the Radio Regulatory Council.