January 27, 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) drafted a directive that partially revises the examination standards (MIC Directive No. 67 of 2001) related to the Radio Act in response to the addition of radio station operating styles (to mediate the communication of affiliated companies) due to a power company spin-off plan as a result of power system reform.
In the connection, MIC has decided to make an appeal for opinions from Tuesday, January 28 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020, in the following manner.

1. Background

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, issues over the current power system became apparent, and discussions on reform related to the electric power system progressed to solve the issues. In April 2013, the Cabinet decided on the Basic Policy on Electricity System Reform. In response to this, the Electricity Business Act was revised in stages, and a drastic review of business types (conversion to a system based on business types not assuming a vertically integrated system) was made.

Former general electricity utilities (e.g., Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Ltd.) are currently operating radio stations as private communication networks for public service use. After the spin-off due to the partial revision of the Electricity Business Act (Law No. 47, 2015, the revision of which is scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2020), the radio stations may be operated for telecommunications business use. Accordingly, it is necessary to make it possible to evaluate radio stations with the purpose of telecommunications business use added.

Accordingly, MIC drafted a directive that partially revises the examination standards so that examinations for telecommunications business (e.g., those on frequency allocation and transmission quality) will be possible.

2. Overview of the institutional development of related regulations

• 1.
  Definition of electric utilities
• 2.
  Response to the additional purpose and communications items of radio stations
• 3.
  Other development

3. 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 Tuesday, January 28 and no later than Wednesday, February 26, 2020.
(Opinions, if submitted by mail, must arrive no later than the same day.)

4. Future plans

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