August 10, 2007

Public Comment Invited on Draft MIC Notice to Partially Amend its Notice concerning Designation of Bodies to Conduct Essential Communications

In conjunction with the privatization of Japan Post on October 1 of this year, MIC will partially amend the MIC notice concerning the designation of bodies to conduct essential communications (MIC Notice No. 584 of 2005). MIC thus invites public comment on the draft MIC notice until Monday, September 10, 2007.

1. Background of amendment
It is stipulated by law that any telecommunications carrier shall give priority to communications urgently needed to ensure the public interest (essential communications), and may, if necessary, suspend part of its telecommunications activities, such as limiting other communications, in accordance with the standards.

As the standards stipulate that the bodies to conduct essential communications be designated by MIC notice, MIC will partially amend the MIC notice concerning the designation of bodies to conduct essential communications in conjunction with the privatization of Japan Post on October 1.

2. Outline of the draft notice
- Japan Post, which has been a designated disaster relief body, is deleted. Meanwhile Japan Post Co., Ltd. and Postal Services Company, and Post Office Company, which will take over the business of Japan Post as a disaster relief body, are added to disaster relief bodies.
Since Yucho Bank Company will be established as a bank pursuant to the Banking Law (Law No. 59 of 1981), and the bank has already been stipulated in a notice, it is not explicitly included in the addition of this amendment.
- MIC will add dispensing pharmacies to the disaster relief bodies, as they have been added to health care facilities as well as hospitals and clinics under a change to the Medical Service Law that took effect as of April 1, 2007.

3. Future schedule
MIC will consider the contributed comments in finalizing the draft notice, and promulgate and put it into force in a prompt manner.

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International Policy Division,
International Affairs Department
Telecommunications Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81 3 5253 5920 / FAX: +81 3 5253 5924