January 16, 2020 Public Appeal for FY2020 Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements and Survey on Subsidy Request

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to make a public appeal for subsidized companies (executive organizations), direct subsidy project plans on promoting advanced radio environment improvements, and survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans to be conducted through executive organizations.
The public appeal and survey are to be covered by the fiscal 2020 initial budget. MIC, however, decided to make this appeal and survey before the fiscal 2020 budget bill passes the Diet. Therefore, it should be kept in mind that the implementation of the project is subject to change according to the passage of the budget bill.

1. Overview

The project on promoting advanced radio environment improvements subsidizes a part of the costs of local governments, third-sector corporations, and telecommunications carriers to install optical fibers that are prerequisites for high-speed, large-capacity wireless stations in geographically disadvantaged areas.

The project is divided into direct subsidy project plans that provide direct assistance to prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations, and indirect subsidy project plans that provide indirect assistance to telecommunications carriers through executive organizations.

MIC has decided to make an appeal for direct subsidy projects and a survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans.

2. Public appeal for executive organizations for indirect subsidy project plans

1. Implementing entity

General incorporated associations, general incorporated foundations, public interest incorporated associations, and public interest incorporated foundations

2. Period of submission

From Thursday, January 16, and no later than noon on Friday, February 7, 2020.

3. Method of application

Create application documents in accordance with the subsidy grant guidelines* for the support project of wireless system diffusion costs and the public appeal guidelines for executive organizations for promoting advanced radio environment improvements specified in the following URL, and submit the application documents (one original and one copy) and electronic data on the application documents to the Broadband Development Office, Telecommunications Policy Division, Telecommunications Business Department under MIC’s Telecommunications Bureau, within the application period.

Submit the electronic data using e-mail or a large-capacity file transfer system specified by MIC.

URL:https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/broadband/index.html

  • *
    It should be kept in mind that subsidy grant guidelines for the support project of wireless system diffusion costs may be subject to change in the future.

4. Future schedule (tentative)

  • Decision on subsidized companies: Early in March 2020
  • Grant decision: Early in April 2020

3. Public appeal for direct subsidy project plans

1. Implementing entity

Prefectures, municipalities, and third sector corporations

2. Period of submission

From Thursday, January 16, 2020, and no later than 12:00 pm on Friday, February 7, 2020.

3. Method of application

Create application documents in accordance with the subsidy grant guidelines* for the support project of wireless system diffusion costs and the implementation manual for the project on promoting advanced radio environment improvements specified in the following URL, and submit one original, a copy, and electronic data on relevant documents to the competent Regional Bureau of Telecommunications (the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications in the case of Okinawa).

Submit the electronic data using e-mail or a large-capacity file transfer system specified by MIC.

URL:https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/broadband/index.html

  • *
    It should be kept in mind that subsidy grant guidelines for the support project of wireless system diffusion costs may be subject to change in the future.

4. Future schedule (tentative)

Announcement of adopted projects: In and after the middle of March 2020

4. Survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans

1. Targets

  • Municipalities considering development by telecommunications carriers
  • Telecommunications carriers

2. Period of submission

From Thursday, January 16, 2020, and no later than 12:00 pm on Friday, February 7, 2020.

3. Method of submission

Create documents in accordance with the subsidy grant guidelines* for the support project of wireless system diffusion costs and the implementation manual for the project on promoting advanced radio environment improvements specified in the following URL, and submit electronic data to the competent Regional Bureau of Telecommunications (the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications in the case of Okinawa).

Submit the electronic data using e-mail or a large-capacity file transfer system specified by MIC.

URL:https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/broadband/index.html

  • *
    It should be kept in mind that subsidy grant guidelines for the support project of wireless system diffusion costs may be subject to change in the future.

4. After the survey

The submitted result of the survey will be used for MIC’s reference material to decide on allocating the budget for fiscal 2020. The allocation policy will serve as a guideline for the adoption of indirect subsidy projects by the executive bodies that will be adopted in the future. Municipalities and telecommunications companies considering subsidy applications for indirect subsidy project programs are requested to submit them without fall.

Contact

For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
https://www.soumu.go.jp/common/english_opinions.html

International Policy Division, Global Strategy Bureau, MIC

TEL: +81 3 5253 5920

FAX: +81 3 5253 5924