March 11, 2020 Change in FY2020 Request for Implementation of International Broadcasting for Japan Broadcasting Corporation and Report from the Radio Regulatory Council on Request for Implementation of International Broadcasting

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) submitted an inquiry today about a change in the fiscal 2019 request for the implementation of international broadcasting for Japan Broadcasting Corporation (President: Terunobu Maeda, “NHK” for short) to the Radio Regulatory Council (Chaired by Susumu Yoshida, Specially Appointed Professor, Kyoto University), along with an inquiry about a fiscal 2020 request for the implementation of international broadcasting and received a report stating its approval of the request.
In response to today’s report, MIC issued a request dated March 12, 2020, to NHK, with the change specified for the implementation of international broadcasting. Furthermore, if the Diet has approved the necessary budget as of April 1, 2020, MIC will make a 2020 request for the implementation of international broadcasting on the same date.

• In accordance with the provisions of Article 65, Paragraph 1 of the Broadcasting Act (Act No. 132 of 1950), the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications may stipulate broadcasting district, broadcasting content, and other important matters, and request NHK to provide international broadcasting or international satellite broadcasting by NHK.
  The costs required for international broadcasting or international satellite broadcasting conducted by NHK following the request under Article 65, paragraph (1) and the costs needed for the research conducted by NHK on receiving the order under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are to be borne by the national government.
• MIC submitted an inquiry today about a change in the fiscal 2019 request for the implementation of international broadcasting to the Radio Regulatory Council, along with an inquiry about a fiscal 2020 request for the implementation of international broadcasting and received a report stating its approval of the requests. Accordingly, MIC issued a request dated March 12, 2020, to NHK with the change specified for the implementation of international broadcasting. Furthermore, if the Diet has approved the necessary budget as of April 1, 2020, MIC will make a 2020 request for the implementation of international broadcasting on the same date.