August 5, 2021 Administrative Guidance for Comtec Co., Ltd.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has today instructed Comtec Co., Ltd. (headed by President OKAWA Shingo) in writing to cease the manufacture and sale of radio equipment that does not conform to the technical standards specified in Chapter 3 of the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950). Furthermore, MIC instructed Comtec Co., Ltd. to inform users of the cessation of using such equipment to prevent interference in the reception of CS broadcasting. In addition, MIC requested a report on the status of the company’s future efforts.

1. Background

In light of sporadic interference in the reception of CS broadcasting, MIC conducted an investigation (trial purchase test of radio equipment) on radio equipment in circulation to check its conformance with the standards of the Radio Act. As a result, it was found that a receiving equipment model (ZERO709LV) manufactured and sold by the company was emitting secondary radio waves at a frequency (approximately 12.6 GHz) that overlapped with CS broadcasting radio frequencies. The emission strength exceeded the conditions for receiving equipment as specified in Article 29 of the Radio Act. MIC has confirmed that the radio equipment does not conform to the technical standards specified in Chapter 3 of the Act (hereafter referred to as “non-conforming equipment”). (For details of the measurement results of the equipment, refer to MIC’s Radio Utilization website https://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/e/index.htm .)
In relation to this, MIC requested a report from the company and found that the internal circuitry and receiving antennas of the said receiving equipment were generating disturbances and that a total of 11 models of receiving equipment (see attachment) were similarly designed, with a cumulative total of approximately 300,000 units shipped.

2. Contents of guidance

MIC instructed the company to 1. promptly stop the manufacture and sale of equipment that does not conform to the standards, 2. inform users of the suspension of using the equipment that does not conform to the standards (through the company’s website, etc., product recall, the establishment of a contact point for inquiries, etc.), and 3. consider measures to prevent recurrences.
MIC also requested the company to report the status of the company’s efforts at the end of every month from August this year through July next year.

(Attachment)
List of non-conforming equipment models

Model name
ZERO307LV
ZERO307LVA
ZERO706V
ZERO707LV
ZERO708LV
ZERO709LV
ZERO806V
ZERO807LV
ZERO808LV
ZERO809LV
ZERO909LS