December 2, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinances, etc. for the Act Partially Amending the Telecommunications Business Act and the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Etc. (Act No. 30 of 2020)

Concerning the enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Telecommunications Business Act and the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc. (Act No. 30 of 2020), which was promulgated on May 22, 2020, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) drafted Ministerial Ordinances, etc. for the Act Partially Amending the Telecommunications Business Act and the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Etc..
Accordingly, MIC has decided to make an appeal for opinions on the drafts from Thursday, December 3, 2020 through Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

1. Background

MIC took the following measures to secure users’ interests related to telecommunications services in response to changes in the social structure, such as a population decline and the globalization of the telecommunications market:

• 1.
  Measures to enable Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation to provide telephone services by means of telecommunications facilities of other telecommunications carriers.
• 2.
  Measures to develop regulations for telecommunications businesses ran by foreign corporations, etc.

For these measures, MIC submitted a bill for the Act Partially Amending the Telecommunications Business Act and the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc. to the 201st Diet Session. The bill was approved, and promulgated on May 22, 2020 (Act No. 30 of 2020, hereafter referred to as “the revised Act”).
These draft ministerial ordinances, etc. includes the partial revision of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (MPT Ordinance No. 25 of 1985) in relation to the enforcement of the revised Act (1. and 2.). Furthermore, in relation to 2, MIC drafted a Guideline Concerning the Application of the Telecommunications Business Act to Foreign Corporations, etc. that Operate the Telecommunications Businesses, and MIC will also make an appeal for opinions.

2. Appeal for opinions

1. Subject

<Draft ministerial ordinance>

• Ministerial ordinances, including that for the partial revision of Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act

  (Details)

  • 1.
    Draft partial revision of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act
    (Pages 1-33)
  • 2.
    Draft partial revision of the Rules for Accounting on Telecommunications Business (MPT Ordinance No. 26 of 1985) (Pages 34-35)
  • 3.
    Draft partial revision of the Regulations for Chief Telecommunications Engineer (MPT Ordinance No. 27 of 1985) (Pages 36-38)
  • 4.
    Draft partial revision of the Rules for Installation Technician (MPT Ordinance No. 28 of 1985) (Pages 39-40)
  • 5.
    Draft partial revision of the Regulations for Telecommunications Facilities used for Telecommunications Business
    (MPT Ordinance No. 30 of 1985) (Pages 41-46)
  • 6.
    Draft partial revision of the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business (MPT Ordinance No. 46 of 1988) (Pages 47-51)
  • 7.
    Regulations for Telecommunications Numbers (MIC Ordinance No. 4 of 2019) (Pages 52-53)
• Draft ministerial ordinance for the partial revision of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Wire Telecommunications Act (MPT Ordinance No. 36 of 1953)

<Draft notices>

• Draft partial revision of the matter to determine the details of the Regulations for Telecommunications Facilities used for Telecommunications Business (MPT Notice No. 228 of 1985)
• Draft partial revision of the Standards for Safety and Reliability of Information and Telecommunications Networks (MPT Notice No. 73 of 1987)
• Draft partial revision of the matter to determine the measurement conditions for communications quality (MIC Notice No. 136 of 2013)
• Draft partial revision of the Telecommunications Numbering Plan (MIC Notice No. 6 of 2019)
• Abolition plan on the matters stipulating how to submit documents by electromagnetic means under the provisions of Article 8-2, Paragraph 1 of the Rules for Enforcement of the Cable Telecommunications Act (MPT Notice No. 212 of 1998), etc

<Draft guidelines>

• Draft Guideline Concerning the Application of the Telecommunications Business Act to Foreign Corporations, etc. that Operate the Telecommunications Businesses

2. Submission period

From Thursday, December 3, 2020, through Wednesday, January 6, 2021 (Opinions submitted by mail will be accepted if postmarked by the deadline date.).
MIC will post this matter on the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp ) as well.

3. Future plans

With consideration of opinions submitted, MIC will establish the ministerial ordinances, etc. to come into force within one year from the date of promulgation of the revised Act (May 22, 2020).
As of December 2, 2020, MIC consulted with the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council on some of the matters for appeal for opinions. The Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council will make a report in response to MIC’s report considering the results of the appeal for opinions.