January 17, 2021 Public Appeal for FY2022 Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements and Survey on Subsidy Request

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to make a public appeal for direct subsidy project plans from Monday, January 17 through Friday, February 4, 2022. This public appeal aims to promote advanced radio environment improvements, executive organizations of indirect subsidy project plans, and a survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans for fiscal 2022.

1. Overview

The Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements and Survey on Subsidy Request subsidizes local governments, third-sector corporations, and telecommunications carriers to install optical fibers as prerequisites for high-speed, large-capacity wireless stations in geographically disadvantaged areas. In addition to new development, MIC will subsidize part of the costs of local governments’ maintenance and management of optical fibers in remote island areas.
This project is categorized into direct subsidy project plans to provide direct assistance to prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations and indirect subsidy project plans to provide indirect assistance to telecommunications carriers through executive organizations.
MIC has decided to make this public appeal for direct subsidy project plans, executive organizations of indirect subsidy project plans, and a survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans.

2. Public appeal for direct subsidy project plans (including the maintenance of leased line equipment for remote island transmission)

1. Implementing entities

Prefectures, municipalities, and third sector corporations (Prefectures and municipalities for the maintenance of leased line equipment for remote island transmission)

2. Period of submission

From Monday, January 17, and no later than noon on Friday, February 4, 2022

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  In the event of many applications, the subsidy amount may be adjusted within the scope of the budget, or MIC may ask the applicants to use the initial budget for fiscal 2021.

3. Method of application

Prepare the document following the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for the Support Project of Wireless System Diffusion Costs as shown in the URL specified in 5 (2) and the Implementation Manual for the Advanced Radio Environment Promotion Project. Then each applicant should apply using either of the following methods.

Submission of application form to the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications or the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications

Submit electronic data on the application document to the competent Regional Bureau of Telecommunications (the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications in the case of Okinawa) that has jurisdiction over the applicant’s location by email or a large-file transfer system designated by MIC.

Application by a system for filing requests for subsidies (jGrants)

Go to the JGrants website (https://www.jgrants-portal.go.jp/ ) to apply.

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4. Future schedule (tentative)

• Unofficial announcement of adopted projects: In and after March 2022
• Grant decision: April 2022 or later

3. Public appeal for executive organizations of indirect subsidy project plans

1. Implementing entities

General incorporated associations, general incorporated foundations, public-interest incorporated associations, and public interest incorporated foundations

2. Period of application

From Monday, January 17, and no later than noon on Friday, February 4, 2022

3. Method of application

Prepare the document following the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for the Support Project of Wireless System Diffusion Costs as shown in the URL specified in 5 (2) and the Implementation Manual for the Advanced Radio Environment Promotion Project. Then submit electronic data on the application document to the Broadband Development Office, Telecommunications Policy Division, Telecommunications Business Department under MIC’s Telecommunications Bureau, by email or a large-file transfer system designated by MIC.

4. Future schedule (tentative)

Decision on executive organizations: April 1, 2022

4. Survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans

1. Targets

• Municipalities considering development by telecommunications carriers
• Telecommunications carriers

2. Period of submission

From Monday, January 17, and no later than noon on Friday, February 4, 2022

3. Method of submission

Prepare the document following the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for the Support Project of Wireless System Diffusion Costs as shown in the URL specified in 5 (2) and the Implementation Manual for the Advanced Radio Environment Promotion Project. Then submit electronic data on the application document to the competent Regional Bureau of Telecommunications (the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications in the case of Okinawa) that has jurisdiction over the applicant’s location by email or a large-file transfer system designated by MIC.

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  The published material is in Japanese only.

4. Handling of survey results

The submitted result of the survey will be used for MIC’s reference material to decide on allocating the budget for fiscal 2022. The allocation policy will serve as a guideline for adopting indirect subsidy projects by the executive bodies that will be adopted in the future. Municipalities and telecommunications companies considering subsidy applications for indirect subsidy project programs are requested to submit them without fail.

5. Points to note

The public appeal and survey on subsidy requests are preliminary procedures to be conducted assuming that the budget will be approved. Then the subsidy project can be started promptly after the initial budget for fiscal 2022 is approved. Therefore, it should be kept in mind that the implementation of the project is subject to the passage of the budget bill, and accordingly, the contents of the projects are subject to change.