January 15, 2021 Public Appeal for FY2021 Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements and Survey on Subsidy Request

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to make a public appeal from Friday, January 15 through Friday, February 5, 2021, for fiscal 2021 direct subsidy project plans on promoting advanced radio environment improvements (including the maintenance of leased line equipment for remote island transmission), executive organizations of indirect subsidy project plans, and a survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans to be conducted.

1. Overview

The project on promoting advanced radio environment improvements subsidizes a part of the costs of local governments, third-sector corporations, and telecommunications carriers to install optical fibers that are prerequisites for high-speed, large-capacity wireless stations in geographically disadvantaged areas. From 2021, in addition to the conventional style of development, MIC will subsidize part of the expenses required for the development of optical fibers in remote island areas by local governments.
The project is divided into direct subsidy project plans that provide direct assistance to prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations, and indirect subsidy project plans that provide indirect assistance to telecommunications carriers through executive organizations.
MIC has decided to make this public appeal for direct subsidy project plans, executive organizations of indirect subsidy project plans, and a survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans.

2. Public appeal for direct subsidy project plans (including the maintenance of leased line equipment for remote island transmission)

1. Implementing entity

Prefectures, municipalities, and third sector corporations
(Prefectures and municipalities for the maintenance of leased line equipment for remote island transmission)

2. Period of submission

From Friday, January 15, and no later than noon on Friday, February 5, 2021

3. Future schedule (tentative)

Announcement of adopted projects: In and after the middle of March 2021

3. Public appeal for executive organizations of indirect subsidy project plans

1. Implementing entity

General incorporated associations, general incorporated foundations, public interest incorporated associations, and public interest incorporated foundations

2. Period of submission

From Friday, January 15, and no later than noon on Friday, February 5, 2021

3. Future schedule (tentative)

Decision on subsidized companies: Early in April 2021

4. Survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans

1. Targets

  • Municipalities considering development by telecommunications carriers
  • Telecommunications carriers

2. Period of submission

From Friday, January 15, and no later than noon on Friday, February 5, 2021

3. After the survey

The submitted result of the survey will be used for MIC’s reference material to decide on allocating the budget for fiscal 2021. The allocation policy will serve as a guideline for adopting indirect subsidy projects by the executive bodies that will be adopted in the future. Municipalities and telecommunications companies considering subsidy applications for indirect subsidy project programs are requested to submit them without fail.

5. Points to note

The fiscal 2021 initial budget will cover the public appeal and survey. However, MIC decided to make this appeal and survey before the fiscal 2021 initial budget bill passes the Diet. Therefore, it should be kept in mind that the implementation of the project is subject to change according to the passage of the budget bill.

Contact

For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
https://www.soumu.go.jp/common/english_opinions.html

International Policy Division, Global Strategy Bureau, MIC

TEL: +81 3 5253 5920

FAX: +81 3 5253 5924