September 24, 2021 Appeal for Opinions on Approval to Amount and Providing Method of Grants and Approval to Amounts and Collection Method of Contributions based on Universal Service System

The Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council received an inquiry today from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. This inquiry is for approval to the amount and a providing method of grants based on Article 109, Paragraph 1 of the Telecommunications Business Act and approval to the amount and collection method of contributions based on Article 110, Paragraph 2 of said Act. In this connection, an appeal will be made for opinions on these approvals from Saturday, September 25 through Monday, October 25, 2021.

1．Outline of application

On September 14, 2021, the Telecommunications Carriers Association, a basic telecommunications service support organization, made the applications to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. One of the applications is for approval to the amount and a providing method of grants to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation, which are qualified telecommunications carriers pursuant to the provisions of Article 109, Paragraph 1 of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984). The other application is for approval to the amount and collection method of contributions for each interconnected telecommunications carrier that should pay the contribution based on Article 110, Paragraph 2 of the same Act.

2．Procedure of public appeal for opinions

1. Subject

• Application for approval to the amount and providing method of grants
• Application for approval to the amount and collection method of contributions

2. Submission deadline: No later than Monday, October 25, 2021 (Opinions, if submitted by postal mail, must arrive no later than the deadline date.)

3．Future plans

With consideration of opinions submitted, the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council will investigate and deliberate on the approvals and report the result to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.