July 17, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Notice to Revise Part of MIC Notice No. 356 of 2018 and Draft Official Directive for Partial Revision of Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to make an appeal for opinions from Saturday, July 18 through Friday, August 21, 2020, for institutional development to introduce a synchronization method to disaster prevention administrative radio for municipal digital broadcasting. Specifically, the appeal is for a draft notice and a draft official directive. The draft notice will revise part of MIC Notice No. 356 of 2018. That is, matters that determine codes (excluding the purpose codes and the communications item codes of radio stations) used in the description of each field of the radio station information sheet attached to each radio station license application). The draft official directive will revise part of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act (MIC Official Directive No. 67 of January 6, 2001).

1. Background

A survey report was compiled in March 2019 on technical requirements for the sophistication of wireless systems for digital public services. The report confirms that interference on the same frequencies is reduced by synchronizing the timing of retransmitting signals (hereafter referred to as “the synchronization method”). These signals are from relay stations and retransmission substations (hereafter referred to as “relay stations”) of disaster prevention administrative radio for municipal digital broadcasting using the 60-MHz band.
With consideration of the report, MIC has decided to revise part of MIC Notice No. 356 of 2018 part of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act.

2. Subject and procedure of appeal for opinions

1. Subject

The draft notice to revise part of MIC Notice No. 356 of 2018.
The draft official directive will revise part of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act

2. Submission period

From Saturday, July 18, and no later than Friday, August 21, 2020 (Opinions by mail reaching after the deadline date will be accepted if postmarked on or before the deadline date.)

3. Future plans

With consideration of the results of the appeal for opinions, MIC will proceed promptly with the necessary procedures for the revisions.

4. Method for obtaining references

Reference information will be posted on the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/en/ ).