November 19, 2021 Appeal for Opinions on Drafts of Institutional Development, including Draft Official Directive for Partial Revision of Examination Standards

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has drafted a directive to partially revise MIC Directive No. 67 of 2001 (Examination Standards related to the Radio Act), along with pertinent institutional development. These revisions will make institutional development to upgrade 11, 15, and 18 GHz band fixed-line communications systems. Therefore, MIC will make an appeal for opinions on the drafts from Saturday, November 20 through Monday, December 20, 2021, as specified below.

1. Background

1. Upgrading of 11/15/18 GHz band fixed-line communications systems

The 11, 15, and 18 GHz band fixed-line communications systems play a vital role in the information and communications infrastructure together with optical fiber networks, such as those for enterprises and base stations of mobile phone operators. In these systems, it is desired to extend the length of routes for installing high-function network lines in island areas, increase the speed of entrance lines for the spread of 4G, and reduce the cost of backbone networks. Based on this background, the Information and Communications Council deliberated on the technical conditions for the sophistication of fixed communications systems on 11, 15, and 18 GHz bands. On May 25, 2021, MIC received a partial report from the Information and Communications Council on this matter.
Considering the above, MIC has prepared the draft directive to partially revise the Examination Standards related to the Radio Act to upgrade 11, 15, and 18 GHz band fixed-line communications systems.

2. Improvements in other regulations

To organize the modulation system described in the construction design for fixed stations that can be operated by switching the modulation system, MIC drafted revisions to the Regulations for Procedure for Obtaining a Radio Station License (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 15 of 1950).

2. Outline of proposed development of related regulations

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  Published material is in Japanese only.

3. Subject and procedure of appeal for opinions

1. Subject

• Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Revision of Regulations for Procedure for Obtaining a Radio Station License
• Draft Notice to Establish Frequency Bands and Standard Modulation Systems based on the Regulations for Procedure for Obtaining a Radio Station License
• Draft Notice to Revise MIC Notice No. 356 of 2018. That is, matters that determine codes (excluding the purpose codes and the communications item codes of radio stations) used in the description of each field of the radio station information sheet attached to each radio station license application
• Draft Official Directive for Partial Revision of Examination Standards related to the Radio Act

2. Submission period

From Saturday, November 20 and no later than Monday, December 20, 2021
(Opinions by postal mail reaching after the deadline date will be accepted if postmarked on or before the deadline date.)

3. Procedure for appeal for opinions

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  The published material is in Japanese only.

4. Future plans

Based on the opinions received, MIC will make the necessary revisions promptly.