March 26, 2021 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance and Notice for Partial Revisions to Ministerial Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment

Extension of the transition deadline for the new spurious standard

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has drafted a ministerial ordinance and a notice to partially revise the Ministerial Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment and a relevant notice. Accordingly, MIC will make an appeal for opinions on the draft revisions from Saturday, March 27, through Monday, April 26, 2021.

1. Background and overview

The Radio Regulations (RR) regarding the permissible values for the intensity of spurious emissions of the transmitting devices of radio stations were amended at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-03) in 2003. This amendment was to maintain and improve the radio wave usage environment and promote radio wave usage by reducing unnecessary radio wave emissions as much as possible.
The governing ministerial ordinance and relevant notice on technical standards for the permissible values for the spurious emission intensity of radio equipment were revised in Japan considering the amendment. The new permissible values (hereafter referred to as the “New Spurious Standards) have been applied since December 1, 2005. As a transitional measure, the permissible values before the revisions can be applied until November 30, 2022.
So far, of the approximately 2.76 million stations in Japan (except for blanket licenses for mobile phones, etc.), approximately 2.1 million stations (approximately 80%) are in the process of transitioning to the new spurious standards. However, due to the socio-economic impact of the new coronavirus infection, it is expected that the transition to the new spurious standard will be delayed.
MIC is collaborating with each licensee continuously on the shift to the New Spurious Standards. However, considering this socio-economic situation, the transitional deadline set for November 30, 2022, will be postponed for a while. In this connection, MIC has drafted the revisions to the relevant ministerial ordinance and notice and decided to make this appeal for opinions on the draft revisions.

Outline of Revisions

  • The deadline for transitional measures will change from November 30, 2022, to “for a while.”
  • Radio stations that have not transitioned to the New Spurious Standards may be used on and after December 1, 2022, if they do not interfere with the operation of other radio stations.

2. Procedure of appeal for opinions

1. Subject

Draft Ministry Ordinance

  • Draft ministerial ordinance to partially revise MIC Ordinance No. 119 of 2005 (the Ministerial Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment)

Draft Notice

  • Draft notice that partially revises MIC Notice No. 279 of 2011 (Matters that determine a method of conducting inspections, such as registration inspections, performed by registered inspectors, and a method of confirming specific tests for comprehensive testing of wireless equipment)

2. Submission period

From Saturday, March 27 through Monday, April 26, 2021

  • *
    Opinions submitted by postal mail must also arrive no later than the deadline date.

3. Future plans

MIC will revise the relevant ordinance and notice considering the opinions submitted on the draft ministerial ordinance and notice and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council in response to MIC’s inquiry.

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