December 21, 2022 Authorization of Changes to Japan Broadcasting Corporation's Implementation Standards on Operations Utilizing Internet

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) submitted an inquiry today to the Radio Regulatory Council (chaired by HIBINO Takashi, Chairman of the Board, Daiwa Securities Group Inc.) concerning authorization of changes to the implementation standards for operations prescribed in Article 20, Paragraph 2, Items 2 and 3 of the Broadcasting Act (Act No. 132 of 1950), for which the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK; President: MAEDA Terunobu) had applied. MIC has received a report from the Council stating that it is appropriate to grant authorization as per the inquiry.
In response to this report, MIC will authorize this matter today.

1. Overview

On August 30, 2022, NHK submitted the attached application for authorization of changes to the implementation standards for operations prescribed in Article 20, Paragraph 2, Items 2 and 3 of the Broadcasting Act (Implementation Standards on Operations Utilizing Internet), pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, Paragraph 10 of the Broadcasting Act. MIC summarized and published its own views on the application for authorization, and solicited opinions on those views from November 12 through December 6, 2022. As a result, 11 opinions were submitted.
MIC submitted an inquiry today to the Radio Regulatory Council concerning authorization with the addition of the condition described below, and received a report from the Council stating that authorization as per the inquiry is appropriate.
In response to this report, MIC will issue its authorization for this matter to NHK today.

Condition of authorization

Operations carried out based on the provisions of Article 29, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the amended implementation standards are Item 3 operations funded by fees for receiving broadcasts and involve providing broadcast programs in return for a fee to foreign video streaming providers of subscription services. Accordingly, when carrying out such operations, NHK shall give due consideration to ensuring that it does not deviate from the basic principles for implementing services using the internet prescribed in Article 4 of the implementation standards.

2. How to obtain reference information

MIC will post the reference information on the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/ ). MIC will make the submitted opinions available for viewing and obtaining copies at the Broadcasting Policy Division, Information and Communications Bureau, MIC (11th Floor, MIC).

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  The published materials are in Japanese only.