January 5, 2009

Results of Solicitation for Applications to Be a Support
Organization for Viewers of Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting

With a view to completing the transition to terrestrial digital broadcasting successfully on July 24, 2011, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) established MIC Television Viewer Support Centers in 11 locations across Japan. As MIC plans to establish more centers to have one in every prefecture, it solicited, from October 22 to November 12, 2008, applications from organizations that wish to provide consulting service and implement measures with regard to reception of digital broadcasts (hereinafter, "viewer supporting organizations") in fiscal 2008.

A review council formed by external experts has examined the results and has designated an organization in accordance with the examination.

1. Outline of operation
(1) Purpose
Having established MIC Television Viewer Support Centers in 11 locations across Japan to facilitate the complete transition to terrestrial digital broadcasting, MIC plans to establish more centers to have one in every prefecture. The effort aims at providing local residents with tailored and detailed advice and explanations regarding the reception of digital broadcasts in consideration of local circumstances, so that they would be able to receive terrestrial digital broadcasting appropriately.

(2) Qualified organization
Organization having a corporate status

2. Viewer supporting organization
MIC invited applications from organizations that wish to become a viewer supporting organization, from October 22 to November 12, 2008, and received one application. A review council formed by external experts examined the application and designated the Association for Promotion of Digital Broadcasting as a viewer supporting organization.

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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,
Global ICT Strategy Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81 3 5253 5920 / FAX: +81 3 5253 5924