June 9, 2021 Results of Appeal for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance and Relevant Notice for Partial Revisions to Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) drafted a ministerial ordinance and a notice to partially revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act. Accordingly, MIC made an appeal for opinions on the draft revisions from Saturday, March 27, through Monday, April 26, 2021. As a result, 175 opinions (42 from juridical persons and groups and 133 from individuals). Accordingly, MIC has decided to open the opinions submitted and MIC’s views on them to the public.
Considering the results of the appeal for opinions, MIC submitted an inquiry today to the Radio Regulatory Council (Chaired by HIBINO Takashi, Chairman of the Board of Daiwa Securities Group Inc.) about the drafted ministerial ordinance for partial revisions to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act. Then, MIC received a report stating its approval as drafted.
MIC will promptly revise the relevant ministerial ordinance, etc., considering the result of opinions submitted and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council.

1．Outline of revisions

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 the technical standards of 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 may be applied until November 30, 2022.
So far, of the approximately 2.75 million stations in Japan (except for blanket licenses for mobile phones etc.), approximately 2.15 million stations (approximately 80%) are in the process of transition to the New Spurious Standards. However, a delay in the transition is presumed due to the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MIC will continue encouraging each licensee and party concerned to migrate to the New Spurious Standards. On the other hand, 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 the notice and decided to make this appeal for opinions on the draft revisions.

2．Targets of appeal for opinions

• 1.
  Draft ministerial ordinance to partially revise MIC Ordinance No. 119 of 2005 (Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act)
• 2.
  Draft of notice for partial revision of MIC Notice No. 279 of 2011 (Item Establishing Implementation Methods, etc. for Inspections Conducted by Registration Inspection Businesses, etc. and Specific Confirmation Methods for Comprehensive Examinations of Wireless Equipment based on Regulations in Article 20 and Annexed Table 7 3-3 (2) in the Regulations for Registration Inspection Businesses, etc.)

3. Result of appeal for opinions

The published material is in Japanese only

4．Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

Considering the result of the opinions received, MIC submitted an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council today on the draft ministerial ordinance to partially revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act (MIC Ordinance No. 119 of 2005). Then MIC received a report from the Radio Regulatory Council stating its approval as inquired.

5．Future plans

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