November 19, 2021 Approval to Subsidies and Granting Methods along with Contributions and Collection Methods based on Universal Service System

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has received a report today from the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council (chaired by KAWAHAMA Noboru (President, School of Government, Kyoto University) in response to the MIC’s inquiry (Inquiry No. 3141 of September 24, 2021, to the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council). The inquiry covers the Minister’s approval for subsidies and granting methods of the same according to the provisions of Paragraph 1, Article 109 of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984, hereafter referred to as the “Act”) and approval for contributions and collection methods of the same according to the provisions of Paragraph 2, Article 110 of the Act. The report states that the inquired approval is appropriate.
With consideration of the report, MIC will promptly approve the subject matters accordingly.

1. Background

On September 14, 2021, the Telecommunications Carriers Association made two applications to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. One of the applications was for approval of the amount and a providing method of grants under Article 109, Paragraph 1 of the Act. The other application was for approval of the amount and a collection method of contributions based on Article 110, Paragraph 2 of the Act.

2. Report and results of the appeal for opinions

• 1.
  As for the approval of the amount and a providing method of grants based on the universal service system, MIC submitted an inquiry on September 24, 2021, to the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council, from which MIC received a report today stating its approval as inquired.
• 2.

  The Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council made an appeal for opinions on the subject from September 25 through October 25, 2021, and received one opinion.

3. Future plans

In response to this report, MIC’s will promptly approve this matter.