December 8, 2020 Survey on Utilization of VHF Band (207.5 to 222 MHz)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will make an appeal from Wednesday, December 9, 2020, through Monday, January 18, 2021, for proposals for specific systems planned to use the VHF band (207.5 to 222 MHz) to contribute to a study on the use of VHF band.

1. Background and purpose

The service of terrestrial basic broadcasting for mobile reception using the VHF band (limited to frequencies from 207.5 to 222 MHz, the condition of which applies hereafter) finished in June 2016. Accordingly, the Study Subcommittee on Utilization Measures for Broadcast Frequencies (hereafter referred to as the “Subcommittee”) will study specific effective utilization measures for the band.
In response to the Subcommittee’s reports entitled Summary of V-High Band Utilization Measures (April 2019) and Basic Policy on Utilization Measures for Broadcast Frequencies (January 2020), MIC made an appeal for proposals for systems that use the VHF band. Currently, four proposers are conducting (or planning) demonstration experiments by the end of March 2021.
There was a request from the demonstrators to extend the experiment period to respond to the new needs for the V-High band and delay their plans due to the spread of novel coronavirus infections. Therefore, MIC will extend the demonstration experiment period for the band by one year. At the same time, MIC has decided to make this appeal for proposals again for specific systems that use the band.
Responses to this survey are voluntary, and the responses to this survey will not restrict the availability and content of actual applications. Furthermore, informants’ responding to this survey will not mean that they will be permitted to enter or introduce the system.

2. Submission period

From Wednesday, December 9, 2020, and no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, January 18, 2020

3. Targets

A wide range of those who are planning or assuming the use of the VHF band (207.5 to 222 MHz)

4. Future plans

MIC will compile the results of this survey and open them to the public. Furthermore, the Subcommittee will consider specific effective utilization measures for the VHF band based on the results of the entry request survey for the mobile reception of terrestrial basic broadcasting and the appeal for proposals for VHF band utilization measures. The Subcommittee may ask for the respondents’ participation in hearings.