June 13, 2022 Solicitation of Opinions on Draft Official Directive for Partial Amendment of Examination Standards Related to the Broadcast Act

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) prepared a draft of an official directive for amending the Examination Standards Related to the Broadcast Act (MIC Directive No. 30 of June 29, 2011) in order to review the provisions limiting a general broadcaster conducting cable general broadcasting operations from opening a community broadcasting station. Accordingly, MIC will solicit opinions on the draft official directive from Tuesday, June 14 through Wednesday, July 13, 2022.

1. Background and outline

Under the current Examination Standards Related to the Broadcast Act, a general broadcaster conducting cable general broadcasting operations (hereinafter referred to as a "cable television operator") cannot receive approval for a community broadcasting station, in principle. However, the cable television operator is exceptionally recognized to be capable of receiving the approval only if the community broadcasting by a cable television operator is found to be specially necessary for the dissemination of community broadcasting in the area where the applicant intends to transmit broadcasting due to such circumstances as that there is no other person that intends to receive approval for community broadcasting operations in that area and that there is strong demand for community broadcasting among residents in that area.
This time, MIC decided to delete the provisions limiting a cable television operator from opening a community broadcasting station from the Examination Standards, considering the changes in situations from the time when the Examination Standards were established and for having community broadcasting fully demonstrate its function to convey information in the area. Accordingly, MIC will solicit opinions on the draft amendment.

2. Procedure of solicitation of opinions

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  Subject
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  Period for submission of opinions

From Tuesday, June 14 through Wednesday, July 13, 2022

3. Future schedule

MIC will amend the official directive based on the opinions submitted regarding the draft official directive.

4. How to obtain reference information

MIC will make the attached reference information available for viewing and obtaining copies at the Regional Broadcasting Office, Satellite and Regional Broadcasting Division, Information and Communications Bureau, MIC (11th Floor, MIC). The reference information will also be posted on the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/en/ ).

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  The published material is in Japanese only.