September 8, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on Draft of 2020 Report on Verification of Competition Rules

The Working Group (WG) on Verification of Competition Rules (chaired by NIIMI Ikufumi, Professor Emeritus at Meiji University) under the Meeting for Telecommunications Market Validation drafted a document entitled 2020 Report on Verification of Competition Rules. Accordingly, MIC will make an appeal for opinions on the draft from Wednesday, September 9 through Thursday, October 8, 2020.

1. Background

This WG was organized under the Meeting for Telecommunications Market Validation. As a result of the enactment of the Act on Partial Amendments to the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 5 of 2019, hereafter “the Amendatory Act”) in October 2019, a legislation system has been put in place to completely separate communications charges and terminal device charges and to rectify the excessive enclosure of customers, such as contract period restrictions, to promote fair competition in the mobile communications market. Based on this system, since April 2020, the WG has been evaluating and verifying the effects of the measures taken, the impact on the mobile communications market, and the competitive environment that includes fixed-line communications.
Furthermore, the WG has been evaluating and verifying the enforcement status of the revised Act and its impact on the mobile communication market through an analysis using various data and hearings from related parties. This WG has evaluated and verified the enforcement status of the revised law and its impact on the mobile communication market through analysis using various data and hearings from related parties.
The document entitled 2020 Report on Verification of Competition Rules has been drafted as a result of the discussions in the past, and MIC has decided to make an appeal for the opinions on the draft.

2. Appeal for opinions

1．Subject of appeal for opinions

Draft of 2020 Report on Verification of Competition Rules

2．Period of appeal for opinions

From Wednesday, September 9 and no later than Thursday, October 8, 2020

3．Submission method of opinions

For details, see the linked procedure for the public appeal for opinions.

3. Future plans

The WG plans to finalize the report with consideration of the result of the appeal for opinions.

4. Method for obtaining references

MIC will post reference information on the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/en/ ).