February 28, 2008
Telecommunications Business Sub-Council
Telecommunications Council

Public Comment Invited on Draft Changes to Interconnection Tariffs concerning Category I Designated Telecommunications Facilities of NTT East and NTT West

Revision of FY2008 interconnection charges based on the Long-Run Incremental Cost (LRIC) method, etc.
The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications today consulted the Telecommunications Council (Chair: SHOYAMA Etsuhiko, Chairman of the Board, Hitachi, Ltd.) on authorization of changes to the interconnection tariffs concerning Category I designated telecommunications facilities of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation (hereinafter, "NTT East and NTT West") (revision of FY2008 interconnection charges based on the Long-Run Incremental Cost (LRIC) method, etc.).

Accordingly, the Council now invites public comment thereon through Friday, March 21, 2008. Please note that the public comment invitation period has been set for three weeks because the Council believes that authorization within FY2007 shall benefit all interconnection carriers.

1. Background to the changes
On February 8, 2008, the MIC ordinance to amend part of the Rules for Interconnection Charges (MIC Ordinance No. 9 of 2008) and the MIC ordinance to partially amend the MIC ordinance to amend part of the Rules for Interconnection Charges (MIC Ordinance No. 10 of 2008) were promulgated and enforced in part. Against this backdrop, MIC intends to authorize necessary changes to the interconnection tariffs of NTT East and NTT West, including revision of the FY2008 interconnection charges to be calculated by the LRIC method.

2. Future schedule
Based on the comments received, the Council will conduct studies and deliberations on the draft changes and submit a report to the MIC Minister.

+++++++++++++++
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