March 12, 2008

Request to NHK on Conducting International Broadcasting, Etc. in FY 2008

Bolstering the provision of information to overseas
MIC today consulted the Radio Regulatory Council (Chair: Prof. HATORI Mitsutoshi, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University) in regard to its request to Japan Broadcasting Corporation (President: FUKUCHI Shigeo; hereinafter, "NHK") on conducting international broadcasting, etc. in fiscal 2008. In response, the Council reported that the request is appropriate.
MIC will make the request as of April 1, 2008, accordingly.

1. Article 33, paragraph (1) of the New Broadcast Law* stipulates that the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may order NHK to conduct international broadcasting by designating broadcast areas, matters to be broadcast and other relevant matters.
Meanwhile, Article 35 paragraph (1) of the Law specifies that expenses required for such broadcasting shall be borne by the State.

2. Considering the need to bolster the provision of information to overseas in fiscal 2008, MIC today consulted the Council on requesting NHK to conduct international TV broadcasting and international radio broadcasting. As the Council reported that it is appropriate to make the request as envisaged in the consultation, MIC decided to make the request.

*Note: The New Broadcast Law means the Broadcast Law amended by the Law to Amend Part of the Broadcast Law, Etc. (Law No. 136 of 2007). This amendment introduced a system in which the MIC Minister makes requests for international broadcasting to be done, etc. for the State to secure the conducting of such broadcasting.

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