July 3, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Revision of Regulation for Enforcement of the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc.

Concerning the enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Telecommunications Business Act and the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc. (Act No. 30 of 2020), which was promulgated on May 22, 2020, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) drafted a ministerial ordinance for the partial revision of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc. Accordingly, MIC has decided to make an appeal for opinions for the draft from Saturday, July 4 through Monday, August 3, 2020.

1. Overview

MIC took the following measures to secure the users’ interests related to telecommunication services in response to changes in the social structure, such as population decline and the globalization of the telecommunication market:

• 1.
  Measures to enable Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation to provide telephone services by means of telecommunications facilities of other telecommunications carriers.
• 2.
  Measures to develop regulations for telecommunications businesses ran by foreign corporations, etc.

For these measures, MIC submitted a bill for the Act Partially Amending the Telecommunications Business Act and the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc. to the 201st Diet Session. The bill was approved, and promulgated on May 22, 2020 (Act No. 30 of 2020, hereafter referred to as “the revised Act).
This ministerial ordinance will partially revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc. (Ministerial Ordinance of MPT No. 23 of 1985) for developing regulations in response to the promulgation of the revised Act (for (1)) and the Act Partially Amending the Companies Act (Act No. 70 of 2019), etc.

2. Appeal for opinions

1. Subject

Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Revision of Regulation for Enforcement of the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Etc.

2. Period of submission

From Saturday, July 4 through Monday, August 3, 2020 (Opinions submitted by mail will be accepted if postmarked by the deadline date.)
MIC will post this matter on the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp ) as well.

3. Future plans

With consideration of opinions submitted, MIC will finalize and announce the Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Revision of Regulation for Enforcement of the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc.