October 12, 2020 Results of Appeal for Opinions on Draft 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. This revision aims at institutional development to advance VHF band subscriber wireless systems and to add the modulation methods to the fixed station systems for relaying audio broadcast programs. In this connection, MIC made an appeal for opinions from Saturday, August 29 through Monday, September 28, 2020. However, no opinions were submitted in response to this matter.

1. Background

1. Advancement of VHF band subscriber wireless systems

VHF band subscriber wireless systems are effectively used to provide subscriber telephone services in rural areas where it is difficult to install wired facilities or outside the coverage areas of mobile telephone services. Meanwhile, current systems uses an analog wireless methods, and there is a need to advance the systems, for example digitalization, from the viewpoint of efficient frequency utilization. Against this background, the Information and Communications Council started deliberating on the technical requirements for the advancement of VHF band subscriber wireless systems in September 2019. MIC received a partial report from the Information and Communications Councils on March 31, 2020.

In consideration of the above, MIC drafted a directive to revise a part of the Examination Standards related to the Radio Act to advance VHF band subscriber wireless systems.

2. Addition the modulation methods to the fixed station systems for relaying VHF audio broadcasting programs

The STL/TTL systems using digital modulation method was institutionalized in 2015. Since then, 64QAM modulation has been used for transmitters. In the future, the use of other modulation methods, such as QPSK, is also expected.

Based on this, to maintain the standard reception input and the allowable value of interference protection for each modulation system, MIC has drafted the directive to revise a part of the Examination Standards related to the Radio Act.

2. Results of appeal for opinions

MIC made the appeal for opinions from Saturday, August 29 through Monday, September 28, 2020, on the directive that partially revises the Examination Standards (MIC Directive No. 67) related to the Radio Act. However, no opinions were submitted in response to this matter.

3. Future plans

With consideration of the results of the appeal for opinions on this matter, MIC will promptly revise the directive.

4. Method for obtaining reference information

MIC will also post reference information on the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/ ).