August 17, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Notices to Revise Guidelines on Improvements in Management Capabilities of Cable Television Broadcasting Industry, Telecommunications Field, and Terrestrial Basic Broadcasting Field based on Act for Strengthening the Management of SMEs, etc.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has recently drafted the notices as specified below. These notices are for the partial revision of the Guidelines on Improvements in Management Capabilities of Cable Television Broadcasting Industry (MIC Notice No. 417 of 2016), the Guidelines on Improvements in Management Capabilities of Telecommunications Field (MIC Notice No. 418 of 2016), and the Guidelines on Improvements in Management Capabilities of Terrestrial Basic Broadcasting Field (MIC Notice No. 253 of 2017).
Accordingly, MIC will make an appeal for opinions on the draft notices from Tuesday, August 18 through Monday, August 31, 2020.

1. Background

Article 18, Paragraph 1 of the Act for Strengthening the Management of SMEs, etc. stipulates that the competent minister may designate business fields where improvements in the management capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises are deemed particularly necessary, among the business fields under the jurisdiction of the minister. Then the minister may set guidelines for improving management capabilities of the business fields.
To respond to changes in the business environment surrounding small and medium-sized enterprises, MIC has decided to revise the guidelines for each business sector partially, thus making this appeal for opinions on the draft revisions.

2. Procedure of appeal for opinions

1. Subject

• Guidelines on Improvements in Management Capabilities of Cable Television Broadcasting Industry
• Guidelines on Improvements in Management Capabilities of Telecommunications Field
• Guidelines on Improvements in Management Capabilities of Terrestrial Basic Broadcasting Field

2. Period of submission

No later than Monday, August 31, 2020 (Submission of opinions by mail must also arrive no later than the deadline date.)
MIC will post the subject of the appeal for opinions on the public comment page of the e-Gov. (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/en/ ) as well.

3. Future plans

With consideration of the result of the appeal for opinions, MIC will revise the guidelines for the respective fields.