November 12, 2007

Public Comment Invited on Draft MIC Instruction to Amend Part of the Examination Standards Relating to the Radio Law

Introduction of radio equipment to be installed on ships or vehicles concerning the Inmarsat BGAN system
MIC has developed the draft MIC instruction to amend part of the Examination Standards Relating to the Radio Law (hereinafter called "draft amendment") in order to introduce radio equipment to be installed on ships and vehicles in regard to the Inmarsat BGAN system.
MIC thus invites public comment on the draft amendment from today to Wednesday, December 12, 2007.

1. Background of the amendment
For the Inmarsat BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) system at Inmarsat portable mobile earth stations, telecommunications carriers have provided services for mobile terminals at the maximum transmission rate of 492 kbps. As ship- and/or vehicle-installed services are globally introduced, MIC consulted the Radio Regulatory Council on the draft MIC ordinance to amend part of the Rules for Regulating Radio Equipment (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 18 of 1950) on October 3 of this year in order to provide such services in Japan.

In conjunction with this move, MIC has developed the draft amendment to facilitate the examination of license applications for radio stations to be installed on ships and vehicles in regard to the Inmarsat BGAN system, and invites public comment thereon.

2. Outline of the amendment
In regard to the examination standards for Inmarsat BGAN radio equipment at Inmarsat portable mobile earth stations, provisions concerning equivalent isotropically radiated power shall be added in the case where the antenna with an automatic tracking function for artificial satellite stations is used. Other necessary provisions should also be developed.

3. Target of public comment and invitation procedure
Target of public comment: Draft MIC Instruction to Amend Part of the Examination Standards Relating to the Radio Law (Comparable table of new/old regulations)
Invitation closing date: 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 (Mail applications must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 12, 2007.)

4. Future schedule
MIC will consider the contributed comments as well as the report that MIC is to receive from the Radio Regulatory Council on the related draft MIC ordinance that it has consulted the Council on. If it can be determined that the development of the related provisions will have no negative impact, MIC will finalize the draft amendment and enact it by early January 2008.

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For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/contact.html

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