November 25, 2022 Results of Solicitation of Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance, etc. for Partial Amendments to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc., and Report from the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) made a solicitation of opinions on a draft ministerial ordinance, etc. for partial amendments to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc. Today, MIC received a report from the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council regarding matters on which it consulted the Council (Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council Inquiry No. 3153, dated September 26, 2022). Accordingly, MIC has published the report, along with the submitted opinions and views on the opinions.
In consideration of the results of the solicitation of opinions and the report, MIC will promptly make the partial amendments to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc. (MPT Order No. 25 of 1985)

1. Background

With consideration of changes in the environment surrounding telecommunications business, MIC submitted the Draft for Partial Amendments to the Telecommunications Business Act to the 208th National Diet for the development of provisions considering (1) the institutional improvement with regard to the appropriate handling of user information and (2) review of the system of Category I designated telecommunications facilities, in order to ensure the smooth provision of telecommunications services and the interests of the users of those services are protected. The partial amendments were approved and enacted, and the Act Partially Amending the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 70 of 2022; hereinafter referred to as "Amendment Act") was promulgated on Friday, June 17, 2022.
Also, regarding the Category I designated telecommunications facilities, public switched telephone network (hereinafter referred to as "PSTN") currently used for the telephone service by the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (NTT East) and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation (NTT West) will reach the maintenance limit around 2025, and migration to the IP networks of PSTN is taking place in sequence from January 2021. From April 2020, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has been making inquiries to the Information and Communications Council on the ideal interconnection system considering the stage of migration to IP networks, and in September 2021, the final report "Ideal State of Interconnection System with Consideration at the Stage of Migration to IP Networks; Towards Development of Interconnection System in Anticipation of Completion of Migration to IP Networks" was compiled by the Council.
Based on the Amendment Act (regarding (1) and (2) above) and this report, MIC will partially amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (MPT Order No. 25 of 1985) for the necessary institutional development.

2. Result of the solicitation of opinions and the report

On Monday, September 26, 2022, MIC consulted the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council regarding the draft ministerial ordinance, etc. for partial amendments to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc.
As a result of the solicitation of opinions on the draft ministerial ordinance, etc. (including matters other than those regarding which the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council was consulted) from Tuesday, September 27 through Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 16 opinions were submitted.
Subsequently, to seek the opinions regarding the submitted opinions concerning the Category I designated telecommunications facilities, MIC made a resolicitation of opinions from Saturday, October 29 through Friday, November 11, 2022. As a result, two further opinions were submitted.

3. Future schedule

In consideration of the results of the solicitation of opinions and the report, MIC will promptly make the partial amendments to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc.

4. How to obtain reference information

MIC will make the press release available for viewing and obtaining copies at the Telecommunications Policy Division, Telecommunications Business Department, Telecommunications Bureau, MIC (10th Floor, Central Government Building No.2).

• *
  The published materials are in Japanese only.