June 5, 2007

Results of Public Comment on Draft MIC Ordinances, Etc., to Partially Amend Regulations for Enforcement of the Cable Television Broadcast Law, Etc.

MIC has reviewed the technical requirements for BS-intermediate-frequency (BS-IF) pass-through transmission, which has become available as FTTH transmission bands have expanded, and advancing source coding and transmission coding methods, and developed the drafts to partially amend ministerial ordinances and notices concerning the Regulations for Enforcement of the Cable Television Broadcast Law, etc. MIC then invited public comment on the drafts from Saturday, April 28, to Monday, May 28, 2007.

MIC received one comment, and discloses it and MIC’s opinion thereon.

1. Background
In recent years, the number of cable TV systems that have introduced FTTH (Fiber to The Home) has been on the rise, and the transmission frequency bands for FTTH have been expanded to 3,000 MHzMega Hertz, allowing BS-IF pass-through transmission that can transmit signals for BS broadcasting without the change of frequency or modulation that used to be required. Under these circumstances, MIC consulted with the Telecommunications Council, in Inquiry No, 2024, on the technical requirements of cable television systems in September 2006. On March 28, 2007, the council submitted a partial report on the technical requirements for BS-IF pass-through transmission, which has become available as FTTH transmission bands have expanded, and advancing source coding and transmission coding methods.

In response to the report, MIC has reviewed the technical requirements for BS-IF pass-through transmission, which has become available as FTTH transmission bands have expanded, and advancing source coding and transmission coding methods, and developed the draft ordinances to partially amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Cable Television Broadcast Law (MPT Ordinance No. 40 of 1972), the Regulations for Enforcement of the Law concerning Broadcast on Telecommunications Service (MPHPT Ordinance No. 5 of 2002), and related notices. Subsequently, MIC invited public comment thereon from Saturday, April 28, to Monday, May 28, 2007.

2. Outline of the Amendments
(1) Draft MIC ordinance and notices to partially amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Cable Television Broadcast Law
Addition of BS-IF pass-through transmission methods
Addition of H.264 to source codings
Addition of 256 QAM to transmission codings
Measures for the termination of BS analog high-vision broadcasting (BS9ch)
Development of other required provisions
(2) Draft MIC ordinance and notice to partially amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Law concerning Broadcast on Telecommunications Service
Amendment to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Law concerning Broadcast on Telecommunications Service, etc., in conjunction with (1) above

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