April 24, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Partial Change of Plan for Available Frequencies Allocated for Core Broadcasting

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) drafted a partial change of the Plan for the Available Frequencies Allocated for Core Broadcasting (Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Public Notice No. 661 of 1988).
Accordingly, the MIC will make an appeal for opinions on the draft from Saturday, April 25 through Friday, May 29, 2020.

1．Background and overview

In recent years, the importance of radio in times of disaster has increased. On the other hand, due to a rapid increase in community broadcasting stations and the nationwide establishment of complementary FM relay stations institutionalized in April 2014, the tightness of FM broadcasting frequencies has become more serious. Assigning new frequencies to FM stations has been becoming difficult. Under these circumstances, it is expected that the spread of synchronous broadcasting technology that enables FM stations to share the same frequency under the precise management of broadcast radio waves and eliminate the tightness of frequencies for FM broadcasting.
The Broadcasting System Subcommittee under the Department on Information and Communications Technology of the Information and Communications Council started studying technical conditions of FM synchronous broadcasting on June 1, 2019, and MIC received a partial report from the Information and Communications Council on March 31, 2020.
With consideration of the report, MIC will make significant institutional development, including a partial revision to the Plan for the Available Frequencies Allocated for Core Broadcasting to establish technical standards related to the implementation of FM synchronized broadcasting.

2．Procedure of appeal for opinions

1. Subject

• Draft Notice on a Partial Change of the Plan for the Available Frequencies Allocated for Core Broadcasting (Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Public Notice No. 661 of 1988).
• Draft Official Directive for Partial Revision of Examination Standards related to the Radio Act (Official Directive of MIC No. 67 of 2001)

2. Submission deadline

No later than Friday, May 29, 2020 (Opinions, if submitted by mail, must arrive no later than the same day.)
MIC’s guidelines for appealing opinions will be posted on the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp). They will also beavailable for viewing and obtaining copies at the contact window of the MIC’s division in charge.

3．Future plans

With consideration of the result of submitted opinions, MIC will consult the Radio Regulatory Council on the draft notice on a partial change of the Plan for the Available Frequencies Allocated for Core Broadcasting.