January 19, 2021 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Revision of Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will make an appeal for opinions from Wednesday, January 20 through Friday, February 19, 2021, on a draft ministerial ordinance to partially revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business.

1. Overview

MIC amended the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984) in 2019 and introduced a notification system to the trustees of intermediary services to ensure the appropriateness of their services as part of their efforts. At the same time, MIC amended the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business (Ministerial Ordinance of MPT No. 76 of 1997). This amendment obligates intermediary business consignees to regularly report as of the end of March of each year (hereafter referred to as the “regular reports”) to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications on the locations of sales offices and other offices and the names of their subcontractors.
Against the spread of novel coronavirus infections, it is required to promote the digitization of administrative procedures further. Accordingly, this Ministerial Ordinance will, in principle, require regular reports electronically. Simultaneously, it amends a part of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (Ministerial Ordinance of MPT No. 25 of 1985) and the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business. These amendments include telephone numbers and email addresses as notification items. They are means of communication necessary when focusing on electronic methods for other administrative procedures performed by business consignees such as intermediaries.
The Ministerial Ordinance is scheduled to come into effect on April 1, 2021.

2. Procedure of appeal for opinions

1. Subject

Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Revision of Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business

2. Submission deadline

From Wednesday, January 20 and no later than Friday, February 19, 2021

3. Future plans

Considering the result of the appeal for opinions, MIC will promptly revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business.

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