May 23, 2022 Solicitation of Public Opinions on Draft Ministerial Order for Partial Amendment to Order Regulating Radio Equipment and Other Draft Amendments

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) drafted a ministerial order for partial amendment to the Order Regulating Radio Equipment and other amendments regarding the wider band use of 920 MHz low-power radio stations in order to meet the growing demand for wideband communication systems using active low-power radio systems in the 920 MHz band. Accordingly, MIC will solicit public opinions on the draft amendments from Tuesday, May 24 through Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

1. Background

Electronic tag systems (passive electronic tag systems and active low-power radio systems) in the 920 MHz band were institutionalized in 2011 and have been used widely for RFIDs and smart meters. With regard to the existing active low-power radio systems in the 920 MHz band, major LPWA radio systems generally perform communications at the maximum communication speed of several dozen kbps and at a maximum communication distance of several to several dozen km. These systems are mostly used for sensor networks which send a small amount of data with relatively low frequency.
Under the existing provisions on active low-power radio systems in the 920 MHz band, the unit-channel width is 200 kHz and the transmission channel can be used up to the permissible occupied bandwidth of 1 MHz by combining up to five unit-channels. However, there is a call for wider bandwidth to meet the demand for video streaming and transmission of a relatively large amount of data.
Considering these circumstances, the Information and Communications Council studied the technical requirements for the wider band use of 920 MHz low-power radio stations. In March 2022, MIC received a partial report from the Council.
Based on this report, MIC drafted amendments to the ministerial order and notices related to the Radio Act in order to make institutional improvement as necessary for the wider band use of 920 MHz low-power radio stations. Accordingly, MIC will solicit public opinions on these drafts from Tuesday, May 24 through Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

2. Procedure of solicitation of public opinions

1. Subjects of solicitation of public opinions

Draft ministerial order and notices

• A.
  Draft ministerial order for partial amendment to the Order Regulating Radio Equipment
• B.
  Draft ministerial notice for partial amendment to the Notice to define the use, modulation type, frequencies, and antenna power of specified low-power radio stations (MPT Notice No. 42 of 1989)
• C.
  Draft ministerial notice for partial amendment to the Notice to define the technical requirements for equipment that does not need to be housed in a casing for radio equipment of specified low-power radio stations, for transmission time-limiting equipment, and for a carrier sense function (MPT Notice No. 49 of 1989)
• D.
  Draft ministerial notice for partial amendment to the Notice to define the permissible occupied bandwidth for radio equipment of specified low-power radio stations separately specified (MIC Notice No. 659 of 2006)
• E.
  Draft ministerial notice for partial amendment to the Notice to establish technical standards to be designated by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications as technical standards equivalent to technical standards prescribed in Chapter III of the Radio Act as referred to in Article 4-2, Paragraph 2 of the same Act based on the provisions of Paragraph 7 of the same Article (MIC Notice No. 263 of 2019)
• F.
  Draft ministerial notice for partial amendment to the Notice to establish conditions to be separately notified by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications prescribed in Article 6-2-4 of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Radio Act (MIC Notice No. 264 of 2019)
• G.
  Draft ministerial notice for partial amendment to the Notice to establish technical standards to be separately notified by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications as technical standards equivalent to technical standards prescribed in Article 52, Paragraph 1 of the Telecommunications Business Act (MIC Notice No. 266 of 2019)
• H.
  Draft ministerial notice for partial change to the Frequency Assignment Plan (MIC Notice No. 411 of 2020)

2. Period for submission of opinions

From Tuesday, May 24 to no later than Wednesday, June 22, 2022

3. Future schedule

MIC will consult the Radio Regulatory Council about these draft amendments in consideration of submitted opinions and, if it obtains a report from the Council, it will promptly conduct the necessary procedures to amend the relevant order and notices.

4. How to obtain reference information

MIC will make the reference information available for viewing and obtaining copies at the Land Mobile Communications Division, Radio Department, Telecommunications Bureau, MIC (10th Floor, MIC). MIC will also post the reference information on the public comment page of e-Gov .

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  The published material is in Japanese only.