January 13, 2021 Designation of Telephone Relay Service Providers and Support Organizations for Telephone Relay Services

The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has today designated the Nippon Foundation Telecommunication Relay Service as telephone relay service provider based on the provisions of Article 8, Paragraph 1 of the Act on Facilitating the Use of Telephones by the Hearing Impaired, etc. (Act No. 53 of 2020, hereafter referred to as the “Act”) and the Telecommunications Carriers Association as a support organization for telephone relay services based on the provisions of Article 20 of the Act.

1. Designation of telephone relay service provider

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) accepted applications from December 2, 2020, through January 4, 2021, to designate telephone relay service providers as stipulated in Article 8, Paragraph 1 of the Act, and received an application from one entity.
As a result of MIC’s examination, the applicant was deemed appropriate. Accordingly, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has today designated the applicant as a telephone relay service provider based on the above paragraph.

1. Designation of telephone relay service provider

The Nippon Foundation Telecommunication Relay Service (Chaired by ONUMA Naoki)

2. Address

1-2-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

2．Designation of support organization for telephone relay services

MIC accepted applications from December 2, 2020, through January 4, 2021, to designate support organizations for telephone relay services as stipulated in Article 20 of the Act and received an application from one entity.
As a result of MIC’s examination, the applicant was deemed appropriate. Accordingly, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has today designated the applicant as a support organization for telephone relay services based on the above paragraph.

1. Designation of a support organization for telephone relay services

Telecommunications Carriers Association (Chaired by MIYAUCHI Ken)

2. Address

1-10 Kanda Ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

3．Future plans

The business operations of the telephone relay service provider and support organization for telephone relay services are scheduled to start after approval to the business rules of their telephone relay service provision and support for telephone relay services. According to the application for the telephone relay service of the Nippon Foundation Telecommunication Relay Service, which has become the telephone relay service provider, the telephone relay service is scheduled to start on July 1, 2021.