January 10, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on Draft of Official Directive for Partial Revision of Examination Standards related to the Radio Act

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has drafted a directive that partially revises the examination standards related to the Radio Act for more flexible use of 9 GHz-band SARs.
In this connection, MIC has decided to make an appeal for opinions on the draft from Saturday, January 11 through Monday, February 10, 2020.

1. Background and overview

Many large-scale natural disasters have been occurring in Japan, including the Great East Japan Earthquake, the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake disasters, and the eruption of Mt. Ontake.

For this reason, in June 2018, MIC established technical standards of the 9 GHz SARs on aircraft capable of collecting information on disasters and disaster victims over a wide area using radio waves from the sky, even at night or when the visibility is low due to volcanic smoke, fog, etc.

Recently, more flexible use of SARs has been required, and MIC has drafted a directive to revise a part of the examination standards (MIC Directive No. 67 of 2001) related to the Radio Act.

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  SARs: Synthetic aperture radar capable of collecting information on disasters and disaster victims over a wide area using radio waves from the sky, even at night or when the visibility is low due to volcanic smoke, fog, etc.

2. Subject and procedure of appeal for opinions

1. Subject

Draft of Official Directive for Partial Revision of Examination Standards related to the Radio Act

2. Submission period

From Saturday, January 11 through Monday, February 20, 2020
(Opinions, if submitted by mail, must arrive no later than the same day.)

3. Future plans

MIC will revise the notice based on the results of the appeal for opinions.