April 9, 2008

Radio Regulatory Council Report and Results of Public Comment Procedure on Draft MIC Ordinances to Partially Amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Law and the Rules for Regulating Radio Equipment, Etc.

Development of provisions for the introduction of active low-power radio systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band and the advancement of passive tag systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) today received a report from the Radio Regulatory Council (Chair: Prof. HATORI Mitsutoshi, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University) on the draft MIC ordinances to partially amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Law and the Rules for Regulating Radio Equipment, etc., which it has developed for the introduction of active low-power radio systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band and the advancement of passive tag systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band.

In the mean time, MIC invited public comment on the draft MIC ordinances, etc., and the related draft MIC notices from Wednesday, February 6 until Friday, March 7, 2008, and received no comment.

1. Background of the consultation
Taking advantage of the characteristics of 950 MHzmegahertz band radio waves, active low-power radio systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band enable the implementation of short-distance radio communication systems and excellent active tag systems in terms of reliability, reach and power conservation, and are expected to play a major role in various fields, such as production, distribution, health care and traffic, toward the realization of a future ubiquitous network society.

Also, passive tag systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band are expected to be increasingly installed and popularized through further advancement, including highly dense reader/writer installation and improved accuracy in tag reading.

Under these circumstances, MIC intends to develop provisions necessary for the introduction of active low-power radio systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band and the advancement of passive tag systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band, based on the December 20, 2007 report from the Telecommunications Council on the technical requirements for active low-power radio systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band and technical requirements concerning the advancement of passive tag systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band.

2. Ordinances and Notices to be amended
Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Law (Re: Articles 6 and 16)
Frequency bands to be used by active low-power radio systems using 950 MHzmegahertz band as specified low-power radio stations will be added.

Rules for Regulating Radio Equipment (Re: Article 14, 24, 49-9, 49-14, etc.)
Technical requirements for radio equipment of premises radio stations using a frequency of 954 MHzmegahertz or lower but exceeding 952 MHzmegahertz and radio equipment of specified low-power radio stations using a frequency of 956 MHzmegahertz or lower but exceeding 950 MHzmegahertz will be changed.

Frequency Assignment Plan
Low-power business radio systems (for telemeter, telecontrol and data transmission) will be added to the 950 MHzmegahertz band items.

Other relevant notices
- Use, Type of Emission and Frequency, and Antenna Power of Specified Low-Power Radio Stations (MPT Notice No. 42 of 1989)
- Use, Type of Emission and Frequency, and Antenna Power of Premises Radio Stations (MPT Notice No. 378 of 1986)
- Technical Requirements for Devices not Required to Be Installed in a Housing, Transmission Time Limiting Device and Carrier Sense of Premises Radio Stations
- Technical Requirements for Devices not Required to Be Installed in a Housing, Transmission Time Limiting Device and Carrier Sense of Specified Low-Power Radio Stations (MPT Notice No. 49 of 1989)
- Radio Equipment and Permissible Frequency Deviation of Separately Prescribed Specified Low-Power Radio Stations (MPT Notice No. 50 of 1989)
- Permissible Values of Occupied Bandwidth of Radio Equipment of Separately Prescribed Specified Low-Power Radio Stations (MIC Notice No. 659 of 2006)
- Requirements, Etc. for Identification Codes pursuant to the Provisions of the Ordinance Concerning Terminal Facilities, Etc. (MPT Notice No. 424 of 1994)

3. Future schedule
In consideration of the report and the results of public comment procedure, MIC will promptly amend ordinances and notices.

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