March 10, 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) made an appeal for opinions from Tuesday, January 28 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020, on a draft official directive for a partial revision of the examination standards related to the Radio Act (Official Directive of MIC No. 67 of 2001) in response to the addition of radio station operation modes (mediated by affiliated companies) in the power split-off following the power system reform. As a result, no opinions were submitted.

1. Outline of Revision

1. Response to the Revision of the Electricity Business Act (Legal Separation)

Former general electricity utilities (e.g., Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Ltd.) are currently operating radio stations in private communication networks for public service use. After the spin-off due to the partial revision of the Electricity Business Act (Law No. 47, 2015, scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2015), radio stations may be operated in telecommunications business operation mode that mediates communications related to power generation and transmission of affiliated companies. It is necessary to screen radio stations with telecommunications business use added to the purpose of the radio stations.
With consideration of the above, MIC has decided to partially revise the examination standards related to the Radio Act with the following contents so that examinations (frequency allocation, transmission quality, etc.) for telecommunications services will be possible.

• Definition of electric utilities
• Response to the purpose of radio stations and additional communication items
• Other institutional development

2. Response to the revision of the Electricity Business Act (change of quoted article numbers) (Appendix)

MIC will respond to the change in the article numbers quoted in connection with the partial revision of the Electricity Business Act.

2. Results of Opinions Submitted

MIC made an appeal for opinions from Tuesday, January 28 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020, on a draft official directive for a partial revision of the examination standards related to the Radio Act. As a result, no opinions were submitted.

3. Future Plans

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

4. Method for obtaining references

MIC will make references available for viewing and obtaining copies at the MIC’s Fixed and Satellite Radio Communications Division, Telecommunications Bureau, MIC (Central Gov’t Building No. 2 10F) as well as the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/ ).