March 26, 2020 Results of Appeal for Opinions on Draft Ordinance for the Partial Revision of Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) made an appeal for opinions from Saturday, February 8, through to Monday, March 9, 2020, on a draft ministerial ordinance for a partial revision to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (Radio Regulatory Commission Rule No. 14 of 1950), in order to upgrade systems pertaining to an announcement of license certificate items of radio stations for public services. As a result of the appeal for opinions, 3 opinions were received.
MIC will promptly revise related regulations based on the results of the appeal for opinions.

1. Background and overview

The items described in the licenses of radio stations for public services have not been disclosed under the provisions of Article 25, Paragraph 1 of the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950). However, the Cabinet decision on Friday, June 15, 2018, on the Regulatory Reform Implementation Plan states that the government proactively announces the allocation status of the radio stations of the public sector with due consideration to confidentiality while taking into account that there will be no risk of interfering with or obstructing communications, and with consideration of overseas cases. Furthermore, as a report announced in August 2018 from the Roundtable Meeting on Effective Use of Radio Waves states that it is appropriate to specify five items of each license (i.e., the licenser’s name, type of radio station, location or moving range of radio equipment, frequency band, and purpose of the radio station), MIC announced a revision connected to a partial revision of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act.
In addition, with consideration of the provisions of this system and the information provided in the AIP (Aeronautical Information Publications), MIC will abolish the notice that specifies the type and frequency of radio waves, etc., used for aeronautical radio navigation services.

2. Future plans

MIC will promptly revise related regulations based on the results of the appeal for opinions.

3. How to obtain further reference information

Reference information on the report can be viewed, and copies handed out, at the Radio Policy Division, Radio Department, Telecommunications Bureau, MIC (10th floor of the MIC building).