December 11, 2020 Results of Appeal for Opinions on Drafted Idea of the Demonstration Experiment for the Conversion of Private Radio Broadcasters’ AM Broadcasting to FM Broadcasting

The Study Subcommittee on Strengthening the Broadcasting Business Base under the Study Group on Various Issues over Broadcasting (Chaired by TAGAYA Kazuteru, Professor Emeritus at Chiba University) issued a report on strengthening the broadcasting business base in June 2020. In response to the report, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) drafted an idea of the demonstration experiment to convert private radio broadcasters’ AM broadcasting to FM broadcasting. Accordingly, MIC made an appeal for opinions on the draft from Thursday, October 22 through Friday, November 20, 2020. As a result, MIC received 68 opinions.
Considering the results of the appeal for opinions, MIC issued the Idea of the Demonstration Experiment for the Conversion of Private Radio Broadcasters’ AM Broadcasting to FM Broadcasting and has decided to announce the same, together with the results of the appeal for opinions.

1. Background

Concerning the conversion of private radio broadcasters’ AM broadcasting to FM broadcasting, the Study Subcommittee on Strengthening the Broadcasting Business Base under the Study Group on Various Issues over Broadcasting issued the report in June 2020 on strengthening the broadcasting business base. The report states that any private radio broadcaster’s AM broadcasting should be stopped and converted to FM broadcasting as a demonstration experiment at the time of relicensing in 2023, considering the request of the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association. Furthermore, the report also states that MIC should consider and announce a concrete plan for the demonstration experiment by the autumn of 2020.
In response to the report, MIC has drafted the concrete plan for the demonstration experiment and made the appeal for opinions from Thursday, October 22 through Friday, November 20, 2020. As a result, MIC received 68 opinions.
Considering the results of the appeal for opinions, MIC issued the Idea of the Demonstration Experiment for the Conversion of Private Radio Broadcasters’ AM Broadcasting to FM Broadcasting and has decided to announce the same, together with the results of the appeal for opinions.

2. Contents of announcement

  • 1.
    Idea of the demonstration experiment for the conversion of private radio broadcasters’ AM broadcasting to FM broadcasting
  • 2.
    Opinions on a drafted idea of the demonstration experiment for the conversion of private radio broadcasters’ AM broadcasting to FM broadcasting and MIC’s views on the opinions
  • 3.
    Summary of the opinions and the MIC’s views

3. How to obtain references

MIC will post the references on the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/en/ Open a new window).

Contact

For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
https://www.soumu.go.jp/common/english_opinions.html

International Policy Division, Global Strategy Bureau, MIC

TEL: +81 3 5253 5920

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