October 14, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Notice, etc. Based on Regulations for Procedure for Obtaining a Radio Station License for Areas to Establish Radio Stations

In response to a frequency band expansion for local 5G, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will make an appeal for opinions from Thursday, October 15 through Monday, November 16, 2020. This appeal is on a draft notice based on the Regulations for Procedure for Obtaining a Radio Station License for areas to establish radio stations, a draft directive for a partial revision to the Examination Standards related to the Radio Act, and a draft revision to the Guidelines for Local 5G Implementation.

1. Overview

Local 5G is a system that can be flexibly used by various entities, such as local companies and local governments throughout Japan, according to the individual needs of each region and industry. Local 5G is expected to be a trump card that will realize problem solutions and the revitalization of various regions throughout Japan. In June 2019, a set of technical conditions was made up in advance for a frequency range of 28.2 to 28.3 GHz, and MIC made institutional development for the technical conditions in December of the same year.

MIC received a partial report from the Information and Communications Council in July of this year. This report was for an expansion of the local 5G frequency bands to a range of 4.6 to 4.9 G Hz and 28.3 to 29.1 GHz and the achievement of the asynchronous operation of the bands. In response to the report, MIC prepared a ministerial ordinance to partially revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and pertinent conditions and sent an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council. Then MIC received a report on October 12, 2020, stating its approval as drafted.

Recently, MIC drafted the notice based on the Regulations for Procedure for Obtaining a Radio Station License for areas to establish radio stations, a directive for a partial revision to the Examination Standards related to the Radio Act, and a revision to the Guidelines for Local 5G Implementation. Accordingly, MIC has decided to make this appeal for opinions on the drafts.

2. Procedure of appeal for opinions

1. Subject

• Draft Notice based on Procedure for Obtaining a Radio Station License (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 15 of 1950) for Areas to Establish Radio Stations
• Draft Directive for a Partial Revision to the Examination Standards related to the Radio Act (MIC Directive No. 67 of 2001)
• Draft Revision to the Guidelines for Local 5G Implementation

2. Submission period

From Thursday, October 15, and no later than Monday, November 16, 2020 (opinions, if submitted by mail, will be accepted if postmarked the same day.)

3. Future plans

Considering the results of the appeal for opinions, MIC will promptly make institutional development for the notice, etc.